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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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COPYRIGHT DEPOSfT 




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The Illustrated Series. No. »— April, 1890. Is<u«<l Quarterly. Subscription, $2.00. 

Entered as second class mail matt, rat Chicago Posl Office. June 14,11 



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V I X 



C 0LLECTED A 



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RAND, McNALLY & COMPANY 
Chicago and New York. 




STORIES 



or THE 



Base Ball Field 



The National Game's Great Exponents 

AND THEIR METHODS. 

TOGETHER WITH THE 

NATIONAL PLAYING RULES 

GOVERNING ALL CLUBS PARTY TO THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT. 

AN ENTERTAINING COLLECTION OF DRESSING-ROOM YARNS 

AND HUMOROUS INCIDENTS IN THE LIVES 

OF NOTED PLAYERS. 



?£ 



HAEET PALMEE, 

Correspondent of the Philadelphia Sporting Life, and Press Representative 

with the "Around the World Tour" of the Chioagc)^ ** 

and All-American Teams. > %?yr°°* 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK: 
RAND, MCNALLY & COMPANY PUBLISHERS 
1890. 







?<?- 




U 







COPYKIGHT 1890, BY RA*D, McNaLI.Y & Co., CHICAGO. 






CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

I. Captain Anson on the Past and Future of 

Base Ball, - ..... 9 

II. Methods op Team Captains and Managers 

Compared, 20 

III. Personal Mention of Promlnent Players, and 

Their Methods upon the Field, - - 40 

IV. Odd Yarns of the Dressing-Room and Dia- 

mond, 55 

V. The Base Ball Structure in America — Its 

Future, -------- 142 

VI. The Game in Other Countries, - - - 164 

VII. The National Playing Rules, - 170 



PREFACE. 



Base ball during the past ten years has awak- 
ened such wide-spread attention, has gathered 
about it so vast a following, and its rules, as well 
as its players, have become so familiar to Ameri- 
cans, that the man, and, to some extent, the 
woman, who is not generally posted upon affairs 
of the game, its leagues and associations, its play- 
ers, and the records of its leading teams, is looked 
upon as having been left far behind in the march 
of a generation' s progress, if not to have lament- 
ably neglected a very delightful branch of his 
education. An Englishman, ignorant of the rules 
of cricket, would be hooted out of any body of 
young men in Great Britain; and so in America, the 
young American who has not scrambled and fought 
for tickets to one or more championship games 
between the great teams of the National League 
is— well, he is not considered a thoroughly repre- 
sentative American. 

During its advance into public favor, base ball 
has developed some remarkably skillful players, 
who, during the past few years, have been 
brought so prominently before the public that 

(vii) 



viii Prefaa . 

their names to-day are almost household words 
from Maine to California. The names and records 
of Anson, Burns, Williamson, Clarkson, Wilmot, 
Ca in thers, Daly, Ewing, Kelly, Comiskey, and 
other players of equal prominence, are even more 
familiar to the average American school-boy than 
are the names of the country's statesmen; and 
there would be no discoloration in the statement 
that, while many a lad might be stumped by a 
request to name the list of the Nation's Presi- 
dents, his eyes would sparkle and his answer 
come promptly to the question of "Who headed 
the batting list of the National League at the close 
of the past season?" 

It has been my privilege to travel many thou- 
sands of miles with the greatest players the game 
has produced, to share in their amusements, to 
listen to their yarns of by-gone days, when the 
profession was not so attractive an one as it is 
to-day, and note their peculiarities of play upon 
many fields, under many interesting circum- 
stances; hence I trust that this little volume may 
not prove unworthy a place among the base-ball 
literature of the day. I can not sufficiently thank 
those of my fellow correspondents whose clever 
pens have done much to make the book attractive. 

Respectfully, 

Harry Palmer. 



STORIES OF THE BASE BALL FIELD, 



CHAPTER I. 

CAPTAIN ANSON ON THE PAST AND FUTURE OF 

BASE BALL. 

" No team-captain in the business,'' says Cap- 
tain Anson, " holds a higher appreciation of ball- 
playing talent, and real ability in batting, base- 
running, and handling the ball, than I do; yet, 
there is one requisite in a ball-player's make-up 
without which he could never procure an engage- 
ment upon any team captained by your humble 
servant. I refer to his reputation for good 
behavior on and off the ball-field. A man with a 
clean record as to his personal habits and a fair 
reputation as a ball-player would stand a far 
better show for a position with the Chicago club 
to-day than would a man with a great reputation 
as a ball-player and a shady record as to per- 
sonal habits. An experienced handler of men 
can develop talent in almost any ball-player he 
takes hold of; but the man does not live who can 

(9) 



10 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

start into a pennant race with a team of intem- 
perate, low-moraled players, and tell where he 
will land at the close of the season. 

1 * I remember the day, and it was not so very 
far back, either, when a man's ability to hit and 
held a ball, or to pitch and catch it, were the only 
requisites necessary to a good position and a high 
valuation of his services; but things have changed 
since then, and the number of clubs ready to give 
employment to men, no matter what may be their 
personal habits, is growing beautifully less every 
day. The result, of course, has been just what one 
might have expected. The objectionable element 
in the ranks, both of the players and patrons of 
base ball, has gradually disappeared, until to-day 
it is as far from the ascendancy as in any other 
profession I can name." 

"When I first began to play ball profession- 
ally," said the big captain to the writer, one 
evening, "the attractions to enter the profession 
were not what they are to-day. Fifteen hundred 
dollars a season was an exorbitant salary in those 
days, and the man who received $60, $60, and 
$75 a month and expenses was looked upon 
much as are the Tiernans, Ryans, Duffys, Den- 
u ys, Gflasscocks, Burnses, and Connors of to- 
day. We did not stop at 'Hotel Vendome^' 
or ' Fifth Avenues' in those days, either, and 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 11 

instead of turning up their noses at upper berths 
in Pullman sleepers, as they do now when the 
manager finds it impossible to secure lowers for 
the entire team, the boys were almighty glad to 
stretch out on the seats of a second-class coach, 
and use their grips — when they had such a thing 
— for pillows. When we went to the grounds 
for a game we took a street-car or walked, and 
got back to our hotel in the same way. But 
nobody grumbled, for the simple reason that none 
of us had ever been accustomed to anything 
better at the hands of our clubs. In those days 

V 

the presence of a lady at a ball game excited as 
much comment as would the sight of a Chinaman 
in the proscenium- box of a San Francisco theatre, 
and the discovery by the ; bleachers ' of a silk 
hat in the grand stand was the signal for a whole 
afternoon of sport at the wearer's expense. 
There never was any certainty, by the way, as to 
the make-up of the teams, for the average captain 
never knew just how many of his men would 
show up in trim for ball-playing when the time 
for play arrived. Why? Well, fines did not 
go in those days; discipline, when attempted, 
was a farce, and the players knew it. There was 
no such thing as a national agreement in existence, 
and the managers strove to e stand solid' with 
the boys, if for no other reason than that they 



12 Stories of the Bast Ball Field. 

were in the players 1 debt half the time, and con- 
sequently at their mercy. Had a team-captain 
sag I to a club president that it might be well 

to consider a player's personal habits before 
retaining him for another season, he would have 
been laughed at. The player who could hit the 
ball, run bases, and field his position, caught the 
crowd, back in the '70's, no matter how tough his 
reputation or indiscreet his conduct off the field, 
and a player's popularity at that time, more 
than anything else, determined his value to his 
club. 

11 You can perhaps imagine how hard was a 
team-captain's lot in those days, and how dis- 
couraging was the outlook to those among the 
players who possessed some degree of personal 
pride and hoped for a better state of things to 
conic George and Harry Wright, Al Spalding, 
Rosa Barnes, McVey, White, and almost any of 
the old-timers who have since risen to eminence 
in their old profession or out of it, could probably 
tell you of instances wherein they have played 
ball with the team's crack out-fielder or in-fielder, 
or perhaps both, so light-headed from a nighfs 
Moss of sleep,' and so heavy-footed from sub- 
sequent 'bracers' the following morning, that 
their 'indisposition' was apparent to players 
and spectators alike. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 13 

" To-day no ball -player of any professional 
team would be permitted to go upon the field, or 
even don a uniform, in such a condition; but in 
those days the player himself, and not the team- 
captain, was the judge of a player's condition. Of 
course there was no training for a season's work- 
that is, no more than the boys felt inclined to 
submit to. When they wanted to train, they did 
so, and when they preferred to loaf and let the 
1 other fellows ' train, they generally followed 
their preference. 

" While this ungovernable, self-willed, uncon- 
trollable element predominated, however, there 
were still many conscientious, well-behaved players 
among the boys, who deprecated such a state of 
affairs, and who possessed the intelligence and 
foresight to see the necessity for a radical change 
in the handling of the game and its players. The 
story of the game's elevation, and its consequent 
growth in public favor, is known to almost every 
man and boy in America, and as I look back now 
and see the changes that have taken place during 
the past fifteen years, it makes me wonder. No 
form of field sport was ever beset by greater 
dangers and difficulties than base ball. The very 
character of not a few of its most prominent 
exponents at the time the game first donned a 
professional garb was enough to kill it, yet the 



14 Stories <>f th< Base Ball meld. 

evils of intemperance among the players, and of 
crooked work upon the field as the result of 
gambling influences, were eventually overcome; 
the game was established and began to be con- 
ducted under business methods by business men; 
the daily press of the country accorded it the 
space in its columns which its rapid growth in 
public favor warranted, and since 1879 — yes, since 
the organization of the National League in 1876 — 
the game has grown, prospered, and advanced 
until I am as proud of my profession to-day as I 
would be did I occupy as honorable a position in 
law, medicine, or the drama as, I am glad to say, 
I do in base ball. 

"The argument has not infrequently been 
advanced in my hearing,'' continued Anson, 
" that, unlike most professions, prominence upon 
the ball-field, as in all branches of athletics, is the 
result of physical -rather than of intellectual 
development. I have often wanted to take a 
crack at this argument, and am glad of this oppor- 
tunity. The day has passed when a player can 
depend upon his ability to bat. catch, and throw 
a ball, to hold his position in a National League 
ball team. I do not know of any profession 
where there is more room for the display of 
judgment, or where a quick, active mind, a clear 
brain, and a man' s force of character and self -con- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. Jo 

fidence can find greater play than in base ball. A 
retentive memory and keen perceptive powers 
are also invaluable to a ball-player. Why? 
Well, if you will look into the games of the past 
three, four, or five years, you will see that the 
games are few and far between wherein men have 
not been retired by well-practiced tricks and clever 
strategic work of opposing fielders or the oppos- 
ing battery, almost as frequently as by having 
been retired upon fly-balls or a throw to first base. 
"Our most effective in-fielders are those who, 
through long experience and fine team work, 
4 double up 5 men on the bases; catch the runners 
by strategy, off the bag; work with one or both 
ends of the battery, to the end of getting a base- 
runner between bases; or so handling a batted ball 
as to force a base-runner into giving an opportu- 
nity for a double play, where a simple catch 
would retire the batsman only. The most suc- 
cessful pitchers and catchers of to-day are 
those who have studied the preferences and the 
tricks of opposing batsmen until they know T pre- 
cisely just what character of delivery is pre- 
ferred by each batsman who faces them. Of 
course, when such a knowledge has been acquired, 
the pitcher takes advantage by delivering a ball 
directly contrary in character to that which the 
batsman facing him desires; while from season 



16 Stories qf the Bast Ball Field. 

to season the code of signals between the positive 
and negative ends of the battery, and by which 
the style of delivery of each ball sent across the 
plate is determined, is changed and improved upon 
by the pitcher and his back-stop, so that their 
work becomes more effective and the secrecy of 
their code of signals is better guarded. 

" Batsmen, on the other hand, study the methods 
and tricks of a pitcher. If a pitcher has a certain 
style of delivery which, through experience, he 
has found more effective than others, he is very 
apt, after pitching two or three preparatory balls, 
to employ it. If the batsman knows of this ball 
he is sure to wait for it, and, when it comes, send 
it over the fence or into the next safest corner of 
the field that he can land it. Base-runners, too, 
study a pitchers peculiarities, and take advantage 
of them accordingly. There are some pitchers 
and some catchers whom the best runners of the 
league will not attempt to steal bases on, while 
upon others a base-runner is reasonably safe in at- 
tempting to appropriate everything in sight — even 
the home-plate if he gets a good chance; and it is 
to gain just such information as this that base-run- 
ners study opposing pitchers just as closely as a 
pitcher must study the likes and dislikes of oppos- 
ing batsmen. The quicker a man' s mind to grasp a 
situation upon the ball-field, and the more retentive 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 17 

his memory, that he may store away the incident 
and experience for future reference and guidance, 
the more rapidly will he rise in his profession. 

"Few men, I imagine, have had more experi- 
ence in training and developing young players 
than myself, and I speak whereof I know when I 
say that I would prefer intelligence, a good mem- 
ory, and an even disposition in a young ball- 
player, to all the sand-lot training and experience 
that you can give him, if his training is to be his 
only qualification. I have taken in hand young 
players wjio were beyond doubt natural players — 
that is, they had been playing ball as youngsters 
and as school-boys for so long that they had devel- 
oped more than ordinary ability as batsmen and 
as fielders — but while playing ball they had either 
neglected their mental training, or else had never 
possessed the material for it, and were, conse- 
quently, incapable of comprehending what I told 
them, or of remembering it when they did compre- 
hend it. On the other liand, I have found young 
players weak in hitting and more awkward than 
skillful in fielding the positions assigned them, but 
they were bright, even-dispositioned, tractable 
fellows, with the intelligence to understand what 
was told them, the mind to note and comprehend 
the situations that occurred upon the field, and 
the memory to retain what they heard and saw, 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

and among those players are some of the greatest 
in the country to-day. 

" It is the plainly apparent value of intelligence 
among ball-players, and the need of more of it, as 
well as the recognized respectability of the game, 
that is attracting to it a better class of players 
than has ever before been known; but we have 
not yet reached the standard we shall ultimately 
attain in this respect. I look to see the colleges 
—Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, and our 
State universities, furnish the base-ball talent of 
the future. Other professions are over-crowded 
even now, and will become more so with each suc- 
ceeding year, until, even though with a collegiate 
education, and a legal or medical education on 
top of that, a graduate finds it hard picking to 
establish himself comfortably in either the law or 
medicine. On the other hand, the training that 
the average college student enjoys in foot ball, 
base ball, and rowing, fits him to enter profes- 
sional base ball, at an immediate salary of from 
$1 .500 to §2,000 for seven months' work, with the 
certainty of twice that salary should he attain 
a high degree of proficiency. Of course, a man 
can not expect to actively continue in base ball 
until he reaches a ripe old age, as he can do in 
law and medicine; but he can, by conscientious 
work and provident methods of living, accumu- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 19 

late, within a few years' time, a comfortable bank- 
account, as the basis of success in some other 
business or profession. The efforts of the National 
League clubs at least, without exception, have 
been in the direction of improvement, so far as 
the moral and intellectual tone of its players is 
concerned. Good habits on and off the field are 
what we want of professional ball-players, just as 
much as we desire ability. I have never hesitated 
in the past, nor will I do so in future, to sacrifice 
talent for good conduct and gentlemanly behavior. 
Those professional ball-players who have refused 
to become gentlemen — and, I am sorry to say, 
there are some such — must swing into line or get 
out of the business, for the simple reason that gen- 
tlemen are beginning to show an unmistakable 
inclination to become ball-players. We shall 
have the game on a better footing, I feel confi- 
dent, with each succeeding year, until it offers as 
great inducements, and greater, to our college 
graduates, than does the stage, the law, or medi- 
cine. It is from the colleges that we want to draw 
our talent of the future; and, so far as the Chi- 
cago club is concerned, no college graduate who 
comes properly recommended will be denied an 
opportunity to demonstrate his ability, or will 
have to look further for a position should he suc- 
ceed in doing so." 



20 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 



CHAPTER II. 

METHODS OF TEAM CAPTAINS AND MANAGERS 

COMPARED. 

" Any ball club that is willing to put out the 
necessary amount of ' release money ' and to pay 
the salaries, can, so far as talent goes, get together 
a great ball team," said Tom Burns, while 
discussing the subject of team management, one 
evening; "but the greatest aggregation of talent 
money could get together would be almost certain 
to make a poor fight in a pennant race, if it went 
into it without a capable field-captain at its head. 
More championships have been lost, and more 
hard-fought games have gone the wrong way, 
through the want of a capable commander on the 
field, than have been lost through poor ball-play- 
ing or the failure of the teams in question to do 
their best." 

Tom might have added, with equally as much 
truth, that there is no position connected with 
base ball whicli the average ball club has such 
difficulty in satisfactorily filling. Good team- 
captains, like good team-managers, are so scarce 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 21 

as to be well-nigh invaluable to the club that 
secures their services, and fortunate indeed is 
the organization possessed of a player who com- 
bines the qualifications for both positions. Anson 
and Comiskey are probably the only examples of 
our time of the successful captain-player-man 
ager. Both of these men possess great reputa- 
tions as ball-players; both have been remarkably 
successful in developing playing talent, and in 
afterward so handling and controlling it as to 
secure the best examples extant of effective team 
work and individual effort; and both possess a 
knowledge of base ball and ball-players, as well 
as a stock of good judgment and managerial fore- 
sight, that has made them the practical managers 
of affairs in their respective organizations. 

Ball-players, for obvious reasons, will refuse to 
talk of or criticise the methods or records of team- 
captains or managers, and the opinions expressed 
in my hearing from time to time have been voiced 
only upon my promise not to use the player's 
name, or through my accidental presence among 
the players in hotel or club-room. 

The lot of a team-manager, like that of an 
umpire, is not a happy one. It is all-important 
that he should be on good terms with his men, 
and yet he is paid for seeing that they keep good 
hours; that they report promptly for each game 



22 Stories of the Base Ball Wield. 

scheduled, and that tliey abstain from all indul- 
gences that would tend to injure tlieir effective- 
ness upon the field. Now, there is no more 
irrepressible animal in existence than the average 
professional ball-player. His splendid physical 
condition keeps him as full of animal life and 
effervescing spirits as a two-year-old Hamble- 
tonian. He loves fun, enjoys a joke and a good 
story, would walk ten blocks for a peep at a 
pretty face or a well-turned ankle, and is as big 
a mischief-maker, in a well-meaning way, as he 
was before he gave up his school-books for the 
ball- field, The means to which a ball-player will 
resort to get the best of a team-manager are mul- 
titudinous, and some of them incredible; yet the 
boys practice them year in and year out, enjoying 
a world of satisfaction in them when they suc- 
ceed, and indulging in a corresponding amount of 
bitter reflection when they are caught. 

I have known a team-manager to sit in a hotel 
office, though very much fatigued himself, until 
he had seen a dozen of his players yawn, rub their 
eyes, and take the elevator for their rooms; and 
then I have known one-half or more of these 
sleepy ball-players to quietly descend the stair- 
case, half an hour after their self-satisfied mana- 
had himself sought his bed, and slip around 
the corner i'ov a glass of beer and a cigar with 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 23 

waiting friends, or else assemble in some one of 
the rooms for a little game of " fifty-cent limit " 
that was good for the balance of the night at least. 
In nine out of ten such cases, the manager is 
never any the wiser; indeed, he would feel 
thoroughly annoyed at the busy-body who in- 
formed him, for then he would have to investigate 
and fine somebody, and the managers who like to 
fine are few and far between. The fact is, that in 
too many cases the manager is afraid to fine. 
He is not sure of his position beyond a period of 
one season at most. If the team does reasonably 
well, he may be retained for another season, and 
he may not; if the team makes a brilliant showing 
and wins the pennant hands down, he is sure to 
be retained, and at an increased salary. If, how- 
ever, the team puts up ragged ball day after day, 
and the boys play with apparent lack of heart 
and spirit, the manager knows well that another 
man will fill his position the following year. 
Consequently, for his own sake, he is not anxious 
to bring down upon his head the wrath of the 
players, who practically hold his position in their 
hands. 

And for this state of affairs the ball club itself, 
in the majority of cases, is wholly to blame. In 
the first place, club stockholders should satisfy 
themselves as to a managers ability and qualifi- 



•21 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

cations before employing him, and then, when he 
has assumed the management of the team, should 
allow him to do so under the assurance that he 
might line a player or increase his salary as he 
saw lit, or that he might discharge and employ at 
his pleasure; in a word, that his control of the 
players should be absolute and unquestioned, 
just as much as the authority of a city editor 
over his reporters is practically supreme. Then 
the players of a team would respect a manager 
and regard his wishes. To-day it is the exception 
when they do either. The average ball club 
stockholder knows about as much concerning 
the practical management of a ball team as he 
does of astrology. He has invested his money, 
is perhaps a base-ball enthusiast, and may be in 
his branch of trade an excellent business man, so 
it is only natural that he should want a finger in 
the control of the team, and in most cases he 
gratifies his desire at the expense of his team's 
success, and at a cost to the club treasury. It is 
certainly remarkable what a spectacle an other- 
wise shrewd and successful business man can 
make of himself upon becoming a prominent 
stockholder in a professional base-ball club. I 
have a case in mind in which three business men, 
all of whom have since grown wealthy as club 
stockholders, sent their team almost to the end of 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 25 

the string in the pennant race by their school-boy- 
like interference in team management, and came 
well-nigh disrupting their organization and dis- 
gusting their patrons as well. One of the trio 
would take a fancy to a player with some other 
club and employ him. Each of his partners was 
more than likely to do the same thing before the 
month had passed, and what is worse, each would 
insist that his favorite be given a satisfactory 
chance. 

The new player might be a short-stop or a sec- 
ond-baseman, and the men of the regular team in 
those positions might be playing a faultless game 
at the time of the new man's employment, but 
that made no difference to the stockholder. 
His man must be %i given a chance," and given a 
chance he was. Further than this, each stock- 
holder constituted himself the protector and 
friend of three or four men in the team, and 
whenever any of the men enjoying such protection 
were reproved or fined by their field-captain, off 
they would post to their protecting stockholder, 
in search of balm for their wounded feelings, and 
they rarely came back without it. The effect of 
all this upon the team-captain, and upon the 
team itself, can be imagined. Demoralization 
reigned, and team work was out of the question. 
Fortunately, however, the stockholders saw their 



36 Storws of the Base Ball Field. 

mistake in time, and yielded the management of 
their team to an experienced man, with the result 
that the team played a magnificent game of ball, 
and was making a strong bid for the pennant of 
1889, when one of the stockholders, growing 
over-anxious at the close character of the race, 
yielded to a desire to again have " a finger in the 
pie/' and injected a spirit of dissatisfaction into 
the team, which resulted in its defeat in the pen- 
nant race, and the resignation of the team man- 
ager. 

An excellent policy for club stockholders to 
stick to is one of non-interference with affairs of 
team management. The bald-headed manufact- 
urer who puts a light-opera company on the 
road in order that he may invite his friends behind 
the scenes, had far better purchase such privi- 
leges, outright in some other opera company. It 
will cost him less, and he will have just as good a 
time. For the same reasons, the wealthy and 
ambitious base-ball crank had far better purchase 
a dozen season tickets, and distribute them among 
his friends, than to invest in base-ball stock for 
the gratification of his desire to run a ball team 
and invite his friends to the games. A ball club, 
like any other amusement enterprise, must be run 
under purely business principles, and under even 
more stringent rules and sterner discipline than 



Stories of the Bate Ball Field. 27 

is the case with the theatre, the opera, or the 
race-track. 

A well-known and successful theatrical man- 
ager, who once undertook the management of a 
base-bail venture in which a number of promi- 
nent players traveled from the Eastern States to 
California, said to me, after his return : "I have 
handled English and American actresses, and 
have even piloted Italian opera-singers about the 
country, but I pledge you my word I would not 
assume control of a professional ball team again 
for a salary of $20,000 a year and expenses." 
The poor man had simply made the mistake of 
depending upon methods, for the handling of 
a lot of ball-players, that he had found effica- 
cious in his theatrical career, and right there he 
erred. 

^£ As one of the most successful and popular man- 
agers in the country — Jim Hart — once told me, 
"The man doesn't live who can tell another how 
to manage a ball team. I've been in the business 
all my life, and yet, so help me, if I were asked 
to make a statement as to my methods, I would 
not know where to beginTp Ball-team managers 
are born, I guess, not made, for I never saw a suc- 
cessful team-manager who was not a success from 
the start. I have known men who had to fight 
for an opportunity to prove their ability, of course; 



&8 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

but in every instance in my knowledge these men 
were to the manner born/' 

Aside from the exercise of good judgment and 
the self-confidence, born, to a great degree, of the 
knowledge that he has the moral support of the 
club officers behind him in all he does, a captain's 
or a manager s strongest qualification should be 
decision of character and strength of purpose. 
The fact that this qualification is most prominent 
in Anson, Comiskey, and Ewing, the most success- 
ful of their class in the history of the National 
name, goes far to support this theory. All three of 
these men doubtless learned, years ago, that stern, 
clean-cut army discipline was the only system to 
employ in the control of a ball team, and to their 
realization of that fact each probably owes his 
reputation and success as a controller of men 
to-day. There are, of course, exceptions, but the 
average ball-player of to-day would, nine times 
out of ten, disregard his captain's request, and 
look upon him asa u sucker' 7 for having made 
it, while he would obey a clean-cut, well- worded 
command, and respect the man who issued it. To 
prove the truth of this assertion, I need only 
draw attention to the fact that it was not until 
the National League made a combined and deter- 
mined onslaught upon the evil of intemperance 
in its ranks, and fined a score or more of players 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 29 

as an evidence of its determination to wipe the 
drunkards out, that drinking stopped. Previous 
to this the League had pleaded and reasoned with 
its men until patience had ceased to be a virtue. 
Men would promise, and go off upon a night's 
debauch within twenty -four hours. Nothing the 
League management could do seemed to have any 
effect until, in 1887, a new and binding clause 
against intemperance was inserted in the player's 
contract, by which he agreed to forfeit $25, $50, 
and $100, and finally suffer blacklistment, for 
repeated offenses. Even after signing this agree- 
ment many of the players tried to indulge their 
taste for liquor surreptitiously until the National 
League employed a couple of special agents to 
watch their men, and afterward clapped on the fines 
in such business-like style that offenders opened 
their eyes in astonishment and decided to abide 
by their contracts in future. There has since been 
little drinking among the players of the larger 
professional organizations, or, if there has been, it 
has been conducted in such manner as to not 
injure the good name of base ball or the reputa- 
tions of the men who have broken their pledges. 
Persuasion is out of the question in the con- 
trol of ball-players. Co-operative methods and 
co-operative principles, if for no other reason 
than because of the predominating characteris- 



30 Stories of the Base Boll Field. 

tics of the great majority of the players, simply 
mean the financial ruin and swift dissolution of 
any organization that adopts them. It requires 
long experience and keen business sagacity to 
conduct the affairs of such an institution as the 
National League of professional ball clubs in 
America has become; and that the principles 
upon which this organization has conducted its 
affairs are pretty nearly correct, is evidenced 
by its own success, and by the adoption, by every 
other professional base-ball organization in the 
world, of rules, constitutions, by-laws, and agree- 
ments similar to, if not identical with, those of 
the National League. 

But concerning the individual methods of team 
captains and managers: 

It is safe to sav that there are few more un- 
yielding disciplinarians than Anson. His splendid 
physical development and his really wonderful 
constitution have instilled in him a thorough 
contempt for physical ills of all kinds, and unless 
a player is really badly injured, Anson expects 
him to go out and play the best ball he knows 
how to play. "I never ask my players to do 
anything I have not done, or that I am not per- 
fectly willing to do myself," is a boast I have 
frequently heard the big fellow utter, and this is 
literally true. Hso ball-player works harder or 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 31 

i 

devotes more hours per day to practice than 
Anson does, and the player who keeps pace with 
him is an exception. In conversation with his 
men, on the railway or at the hotel, Anson's man- 
ner is pleasant and cordial. He is fond of " kid- 
ding " his most capable players, and will good- 
naturedly stand any amount of badinage himself; 
is always ready for an argument upon anything 
pertaining to base ball, cricket, foot ball, and, in 
fact, athletic sports of any kind, and once he 
takes a position, is willing to back it, up to any 
reasonable amount of money. He never touches 
liquor nor uses tobacco in any form; is fond of the 
theatre, but retires in good season; never breaks 
an appointment; is always the first man in uni- 
form when his players assemble to go to the 
grounds, and is always the first to take the field 
for practice, as well as the last to leave it. When 
a substitute base-runner is needed to run for an 
injured batsman, Anson does the running. He 
shrinks from nothing, and plays ball to win from 
the moment game begins until it ends, without 
any more regard for his individual record than 
he has for the condition of the weather in China. 
When Anson takes a player to task for the exer- 
cise of poor judgment in handling the ball, he 
wastes no words about it, and yet does it with a 
degree of regard for a player's feelings that a 



32 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

Dunlop or a Ewing would not think at all neces- 
sary. Here is an example: 

In a game with Indianapolis, one afternoon, 
Hugh Duffy picked up a ball which had been 
batted to center with a man on second, and threw 
it to the plate. The man on second ran home 
easily enough — in fact, no throw could possibly 
have stopped him — and the man who had hit the 
ball ran to second on the throw to the plate, 
when, had the ball been thrown to second, he 
would have been held on first. Next day Anson 
spoke to Duffy, who was conversing with Van 
Haltren, Ryan, and Farrell in the sleeper. 

4 'Mr. Duffy," said Anson, laying accent upon 
the Mr.) " what were you trying to do with that 
ball yesterday V ' 

Duffy turned and looked at Anson, the tell- 
tale expression on his face being only partly con- 
cealed by an attempted assumption of innocence. 

"What do you mean?" he asked. 

"You know what I mean," replied Anson. 
"You let McGeachy get second by throwing the 
ball to the plate." 

" O, yes," said Duffy. " Well, I thought I was 
dead sure of getting a man at the plate." 

And with that Hugh turned and began to talk 
to Van Haltren. 

Most captains would have smiled at the bluff, 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 33 

and let the matter drop then and there; but with 
Anson it was different. 

44 You thought what?" asked Anson, crossing 
over to where Duffy sat, and laying his hand on 
tjie latter' s shoulder. 

Hugh flushed "a little, but replied: "I was sure 
of catching a man at the plate." 

" Now^, look here, Hugh," said Anson, " you 
did not think anything of the kind, and you 
know it. You just didn't have your wits about 
you, and would have given a good deal to have 
had that ball back in your hands before it got ten 
feet away from you. I know how it is; I've been 
there myself. But don't do it again; it is not 
ball-playing, and it don't look well;" with which 
Anson turned and walked away. 

I have never seen a ball-player hesitate an 
instant to carry out Anson's orders when the big 
fellow issued them on the field. Occasionally the 
carriages have waited for some one of the boys 
who had not commenced his toilet for the game as 
soon after dinner as he should have done; but 
rarely indeed has such a thing occurred. Under 
such circumstances, Anson never reproves a 
player, nor indicates his annoyance in any way. 
There is no doubt but that he is annoyed, how- 
ever, and the offending player is pretty apt to feel 
thoroughly uncomfortable during the ride to the 



34 lories of the Base Ball Field. 

grounds. There are many players who do not like 
Anson, yet the longer men play under his cap- 
taincy, the more unwilling they are to play under 
anyone else. Anson has absolutely no sentiment 
in his composition. He is matter-of-fact, calcu- 
lating, and practical to a degree rarely met with. 
Once convinced that a man is in pain or in distress, 
the ' 4 Old Man ' ' will do anything and everything, 
in his unassuming, practical way, for the sufferer; 
but he is a hard man to convince. I have known 
him to insist upon men playing ball with swollen 
and inflamed fingers that really looked as though 
they needed a rest, and to order men out on a 
trip with their faces swollen from severe colds. 
But in all such instances his judgment was right 
— the sore fingers got no worse, and in time healed 
up. although the men were kept playing ball 
right along; while the colds disappeared, the 
swelling in the faces went down, and the affected 
ones were playing better ball than ever. "I can't 
leave you fellows at home every time you get a 
crick in your back or wake up with sore throat/' 
is the reply with which he is wont to meet 
requests for a lay-off; "it isn't what the club pays 
you for/' And it is such remarks as these that 
have won for Anson the name of " Task-master." 
My only comment is, that the Chicago club is to 
be congratulated upon the possession of a man 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 35 

who imposes tasks as Anson does. In his role 
of " Task-master " he has won for himself an 
enviable reputation as a team- captain; he has led 
no less than seven league teams to victory in as 
many pennant races; he has probably developed 
more ball-players than any two team-captains in 
the country, and has sent out from the ranks of the 
Chicago league team the greatest and most- 
celebrated exponents of the game the world has 
produced. Many a young ball-player, possessed 
of a National reputation to-day, owes his name 
and fame to Anson, for it was Anson who gave 
him the opportunity that had been refused him 
wherever else he had applied. In the writer s 
opinion, the game has not yet produced Anson' s 
equal, and will never produce his superior as a 
judge of ball-playing talent, and as a captain 
and team-manager. 

" Charley Comiskey's success/' said a close 
friend of Yon der Ahe's former right bower to the 
writer, recently, ' J is due to his wonderful ability to 
win a ball-player's friendship and admiration, and 
still exercise over him almost as much control as 
an army captain would over a private. How he does 
it I could never understand, but his personal 
influence with his men is the secret of his success. 
The strange part of it is, that his influence is as 
potent with a tough as with a gentleman; he can 



36 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

handle an ignorant man as cleverly as lie can a 
fellow who may be his superior in intellectual 
attainments. All his men are willing to shut their 
eyes and do what he tells them, having absolute 
confidence in his judgment, and being anxious 
for his approval and commendation. Had Anson 
this faculty of impressing and influencing his 
men, in addition to his other qualifications, he 
would be the greatest team-captain the game has 
ever produced; but he hasn't it, and therein lies 
the difference between Anson and Comiskey. Of 
course, Comiskey is a great ball-player, and an 
excellent judge of talent as well. He has de- 
veloped some great ball-players, and probably 
got as fine team-work out of the Browns as any 
ever witnessed on any ball-field in the country. 
He is firm with his men, but never abusive, and, 
as I have said, got more work out of any mem- 
ber of the St. Louis team by requesting it than 
Von der Ahe could have done with a $1,000 
note as a persuader. He is a cool, clear-headed 
fellow, with a world of experience in team man- 
agement, and without whom Chris Von der Ahe 
would have dropped out of base ball, in my opin- 
ion, years ago. That is Comiskey as I know 
him." 

Ewings success as captain of the New York 
team during the seasons of 1888 and 1889 has 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 37 

brought him to the front as one of the prominent 
team-captains of his time. There are few more 
severe captains in the business, and yet per- 
sonally Ewing is wonderfully popular with his 
men. For this reason I believe him to be an 
excellent judge of character, and thoroughly 
familiar with the make-up of the average ball- 
player. He evidently knows the value of strict 
discipline in the control of his men, and does not 
hesitate to employ it. A little incident that 
occurred on the old Staten Island grounds, when 
the team was playing there during the summer of 
1889, convinced me of this, and also showed me 
the extent of the big catcher' s popularity with the 
crowd. 

Chicago was the opposing team, and Duffy was 
at bat. Gore was playing center for the ' ' Giants, ' ' 
and was, on the day in question, particularly full 
of " monkey-shines." He had been playing 
remarkable ball for a month or more, however, 
and the spectators were so grateful, as a result, 
that they saw something funny in everything he 
did. Finally, by waiting too long to get under a 
fly-ball, he let it hit the staging and bound over 
the fence for a home -run. Ewing frowned, the 
crowd looked a trifle grave, and Gore himself 
seemed disturbed. A moment later, when Duffy 
came to bat, Ewing motioned , Gore in from far 



38 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

center toward right-center. Gore made a six-foot 
bluff to obey, and then stepped back into his 
former position; upon which Ewing, who had got 
in position to catch, straightened up, took off his 
mask, and, walking across the diamond toward 
center-field, called to Gore. ' ' If you don't want to 
do what I tell you," said he, " you can get out of 
the game." 

It was about as public a slap at the public' s 
favorite as Ewing could have administered, and 
after ten seconds of silence a storm of hisses arose 
from the grand stand as Gore slowly walked over 
and took the position Ewing had indicated. At 
the first hiss, Ewing turned quickly and walked 
back toward the grand stand, his flashing eyes 
sweeping it from one end to another. The hissing 
ceased instantly, and the crowd actually began to 
cheer the man it had just been hissing. Ewing' s 
lip curled, and then he smiled as though to say, 
" Well, I thought so," as he picked up his mask 
and continued the game. Ewing never hesitates 
to take a man to task at once for a poor play; but 
a man whom he may have embarrassed on the 
ball-field during the afternoon, he will treat with 
special consideration in the club-house after the 
game, so that the player who felt like quitting 
the game at the time of his captain' s brusque ' i call 
down," is ready, by the time he has taken his 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 39 

bath and donned his street attire, to vote Ewing 
the best team-captain in the business. Ewing, 
perhaps more than any other captain, imbues each 
of his players, by his own conduct and deportment 
on the field, with an abundance of confidence in the 
superiority of their team. He is invariably indif- 
ferent to the crowd, save for the running volley of 
chaff he fires at and invites from the spectators 
immediately behind him. He either carries a dis- 
puted point, or else does not let up on an umpire 
during the balance of the game, and meantime 
exercises a telling influence over his men in all 
parts of the field by the excellence of his own play- 
ing, as well as by his constant " pulling" for his 
team, whether it be in his position behind the bat, in 
the coacher's lines, or upon the bench. The fact 
that Ewing, Comiskey, nor Anson are interfered 
with by anyone in the control of their men — that 
their word is practically law among their respect- 
ive players — doubtless has much to do with their 
success as team-captains. 



40 Stories of the Base Ball Field 



CHAPTER III. 

PERSONAL MENTION OF PROMINENT PLAYERS AND 
THEIR METHODS UPON THE FIELD. 

That every player possesses one or more dis- 
tinguishing characteristics in his work upon the 
ball-field, becomes apparent to the lover of the 
game who will study the tactics of the men com- 
posing the different teams of a league during the 
playing season. There are governing principles, 
of course, which every player must observe, in 
catching, throwing, handling, and batting the ball; 
yet it is the exception when those peculiarities of 
style and method which distinguish one player 
from another upon the field are found duplicated 
in the same team, or even in the same association. 

Peculiarities are sometimes the result of habit; 
sometimes the result of a theory upon the part of 
a ball-player that some particular method of bat- 
ting, sliding, fielding, or running bases is more 
effective than others; and again they exist because 
the player adopted them in the beginning of his 
career and developed them as he advanced in 
ability and popularity. It is these methods upon 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 41 

the field which create a player's individuality, 
which make him popular or unpopular, which 
distinguish him from other players, and which 
either make him invaluable to a club, or fix his 
standing in the profession at the ordinary, extra- 
ordinary, or phenomenal notch in the market of 
base-ball talent. 

A good judge of talent once remarked to me: 
' ' I will bet an even $100 with anyone that if a 
team selected from the old-timers of the National 
League — that is, men who have played in the 
league five years or more — were to come upon the 
field with masks on their faces, I could name every 
man of the nine before it had played an inning. 
Their attitudes on the field, their methods of run- 
ning bases, of coaching, of batting, and of fielding 
their different positions, would enable me to spot 
them. I never saw any two men in the business 
play ball exactly alike.'' 

How many Chicagoans are there, I wonder, who 
would not know Williamson under such con- 
ditions? Who wou]d mistake old Anson? How 
many people in any league city would fail to spot 
Mike Kelly, Buck Ewing, Charley Bennett, John 
Clarkson, Tim Keefe, Mickey Welch, George 
Gore, Roger Connor, or any other of the old- 
timers who have stamped their individuality and 
their peculiar methods of fielding and . batting 



42 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

upon the minds of patrons of the game in every 
city of the league circuit? 

Taking the pitchers first, I do not suppose 
another pitcher in the country has the peculiar 
delivery of Radbourne; certainly I know of none 
who exerts himself less when in the box. Rad- 
bourne is invariably the same, whether playing 
an exhibition game against the Macon Grays or a 
championship game against Chicago or New York. 

" What is there about Radbourne' s delivery that 
fools a batsman?" I asked John Tener, one day, 
after a game in Boston; and John's reply was 
exactly such as had been given me a score of times 
before. "I don't know," said he; "it looks as 
though we ought to bat him all over the field. 
The ball comes in deliberately enough, but it is 
not once in five times that we can get it where 
we want it, or that we calculate it right when we 
think we have got it where we want it." I do 
not believe Radbourne changes his methods with 
different batsmen. I have seen him pitch the 
same balls to Anson that he pitched to Flint; yet 
Flint would hit the ball, and Anson wouldn't. 
With the seven other batsmen of the team his 
delivery seemed to me the same— no change of 
pace with one any more than with the other, so far 
as I could see; yet his average of success was about 
the same with all. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 43 

Not so with Clarkson, however. He knows 
every batsman who faces him, and if a new man 
should hit him once, it is dollars to cents he will 
not face John Clarkson and hit the same kind of 
a ball a second time during that game. How this 
player can carry in his mind a mental diagram of 
every league batsman' s likes and dislikes in the 
matter of delivery is a puzzle; yet he does it, and 
so accurately that he rarely, if ever, makes a 
mistake. Well, Clarkson is a phenomenon as a 
pitcher. His judgment is excellent, and his com- 
mand of the ball simply marvelous. Time and 
again, when sitting in the press-box behind the 
catcher, I have been so lost in admiration of the 
Bostonian' s skill as to forget for the moment that 
there was another player upon the field. 

While we were in England and Australia, dur- 
ing the winter of 1888-89, almost the first ques- 
tion the newspaper correspondents of our party 
were asked was: "Is it really true that your 
pitchers can 'break' a ball in the air?" and 
when we told them that there was no doubt 
whatever of their ability to do so, they looked 
the incredulity they doubtless felt. I remember 
one day in Melbourne, while the boys were 
practicing for the game, an Australian just back 
of the catcher's box called to Ryan, who hap- 
pened to be pitching to Daly, and asked him if 



44 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

he would give an illustration of curved pitching. 
Jim responded, and began to send the ball to 
Daly with a strong out-shoot. Perhaps a hun- 
dred people heard the request, and these spread 
the information that the Americans were fc 'break- 
ing" the ball in the air. The result was that the 
crush back of the player's box was so great that 
the ground policemen had to order the crowd 
back; while shouts of " Well! Well!" and 
" Bravo T' went up from the two or three hundred 
people who, being in a line with the pitcher and 
catcher, could see the ball describe a sharp curve 
as it passed from one to the other of the players. 
I thought then, as I thought last summer when I 
sat in the grand stand at Boston and saw Clark- 
son's wonderful command, u How such pitching 
as Clarkson's would have astonished the Austra- 
lians!" 

£ Comparing Clarkson' s method of delivering a 
ball with those of Shaw, Whitney, and Galvin, 
there is little room for question as to the great 
advantage of Clarkson' s style over that of any 
of the three pitchers named, and yet all have 
been great twirlers in their day. There is posi- 
tively no loss of power or strength* with Clarkson, 
while with the others there must necessarily be a 
great loss. When Clarkson wants speed, he finds 
it in his shoulder and his wrist. When Whitney, 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 45 

Shaw, Healy, or Galvin want speed, they use their 
entire bodily strength to produce it. 7 One style 
is not only effective, but it is graceful; it im- 
presses a crowd favorably, and it imbues the 
fielders with confidence. The other is ungainly, 
unnecessary, and not nearly so effective, for the 
reason that it impairs command. The one other 
pitcher — yes, I will say three other pitchers — Tim 
Keefe, Hutchinson, and Mark Baldwin — whose 
methods of obtaining speed are similar to Clark- 
son' s, are successful, although Baldwin and 
Hutchinson have only just begun to fathom 
the secret of command, an art which Clarkson 
had well-nigh mastered even before he made 
his league debut with the Chicago club. On 
the other hand, look at the array of pitchers 
of the Whitney- Shaw stripe who have been 
effective for two or three seasons and then 
dropped in the talent market, for no other reason 
than that, instead of husbanding their strength, 
they used themselves up before they had really 
developed the ability that was in them. 
/ When Clarkson first joined the Chicago team, 
he was wofully weak in one all-important point 
in a pitcher's work, viz., covering first-base. It 
was Anson' s training that helped the great pitcher 
to overcome this fault, and although he has 
never become perfect in this particular, he is far 



/ 



46 ories of the Base Ball Field. 

better at it than he used to be. Larry Corcoran 
had no superior among pitchers as a fielder when 
he was the star of old Ansoir s twirlers, in -83-4-5, 
raid I have never since seen his equal. It was 
dollars to cents against a batsman getting to first- 
base, unless he sent the ball clean and hard past 
Corcoran. No matter where Anson stood when 
he picked up the ball, he was dead sure of find- 
ing Corcoran on first before the runner, if he 
(Anson) was not near enough to the base to reach 
it. Little John Flynn, who bade fair to step into 
Corcoran' s shoes in 1886, was second to Corcoran 
as a fielding pitcher. It came naturally to him 
without any tips from Anson, and when Flynn 
threw his arm out, at the very outset of the fol- 
lowing season, Chicago lost one of the most prom- 
ising pitchers it has ever signed. ^ 

What a world of difference is observable in the 
work of our crack catchers, notwithstanding that 
all of them are behind the bat to stop pitched balls, 
capture foul flies, and hold base-runners on the 
bases. Tom Daly was the greatest catcher, I 
think, that the Chicago club ever had, and a careful 
study of that back-stop's methods behind the bat 
to-day will help any young catcher in the busi- 
ness. Daly's arm was wrong daring the season 
of 1888, and his great throwing to bases of the 
i before failed to stamp his work during the 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 47 

last season he played under Anson. The action 
was all there, however, and had the power been 
behind it, instances of base-stealing by opposing 
runners would have been as few and far between 
as they were when Daly was at his best. During 
1889, after eight or ten weeks of absolute rest, 
Daly seemed to get back into his old-time form 
again, and his work for Washington was a sub- 
ject for comment by the press of every city in the 
league circuit. That he will be a great back- stop 
for Brooklyn seems assured. Farrell caught some 
good ball for Chicago in 1889, but his throwing to 
bases, while, as a rule, accurate, was very fre- 
quently slow, and with any lead at all, a base- 
runner's chances for a steal were reasonably good. 
The cause of this was simply the catcher's fail- 
ure to receive the ball with his throwing arm in 
proper position to throw. Daly's arm, when he 
was up behind the bat, was ready to send the ball 
to second, if necessary, before the ball had struck 
his hands; and at times it has seemed to me 
that the ball simply rebounded from the catcher 
to the second-baseman with terrific speed and 
remarkable accuracy. At such times there 
was no motion of throwing discernible. The 
hand and arm that stopped the ball were drawn 
back and in position to throw when the ball 
struck it, and that fact alone lost the base-runner 



48 Stories of the Base Ball Meld. 

anywhere from eight to ten feet. Bennett sticks 
to the same rule in his work, and when he and 
Daly are at their best, there is almighty little 
base-stealing done by opposing runners. 

Ewing has practiced this method, but often- 
times seems to forget to employ it when its em- 
ployment is most desirable, and consequently has 
not the reputation for throwing to bases he might 
have were he to hold himself in readiness at all 
times, when up behind the bat, to throw the ball. 
He is a very strong thrower, however, and this 
helps him greatly. Bennett, I think, may be 
regarded as a greater catcher than Ewing, for, all 
other things being equal, Bennett is quicker in 
getting the ball across the diamond, and more to be 
depended upon by a pitcher, than is Ewing. Ben- 
nett never gets rattled; Ewing does. Not only 
once, but frequently, I have seen him, when a 
base-runner had secured a fair start from first, 
throw the ball almost into the center-fielder's 
hands. I have yet to see Bennett do it. For all 
this, however, Ewing is a great catcher, and 
deserves the praise that has been accorded him. 

The admission of Cincinnati to the league 
circuit will give patrons of the game in league 
cities an opportunity, during the next year or 
two, of seeing a little catcher whose work is sure 
to please the crowd. I refer to Earle, the player 



. Stories of tlie Base Ball Field. 49 

who made the circuit of the globe with the 
Spalding party. There are few catchers possessed 
of more ability, and the amount of work the 
little fellow does behind the bat is astonishing. 
He is always on the jump, and his stops alone 
will be very apt to make him a great favorite in 
league circles. Spalding and Anson were at once 
struck with his work when he caught Tuckerman 
at Minneapolis, in the game between the Chicago 
and St. Paul teams on the world's tour, and had 
not Cincinnati been just a little the quicker of 
the two clubs in negotiating with him, Earle 
would have caught under Anson during the 
season of 1889. 

Coming to first-basemen, Jake Beckley was the 
peer of every man in his position during last 
season, and I regard his success due as much to 
his cat-like agility as to his stature and length of 
limb. I believe the theory that all other requi- 
sites in a first-baseman should be sacrificed to 
physical development, to height and reach, is a 
wrong one. The greatest first-baseman of his 
time, McKinnon, was not an Anson nor a Connor 
in physical proportions. There is work for a first- 
baseman to do other than to stop the balls thrown 
into his hands by his fellow in-fielders. Pitchers 
who can cover first-base as well as pitch are few 
in number, and batted balls are as likely to be 

4 



50 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

placed twenty feet off the initial bag as in the 
territory of third, short, or second -base. Many 
is the man whom Anson could have put out at 
first had he been more active and fleet of foot. 
Connor is quicker, but still slow compared to 
either Beckley or McKinnon. First-basemen 
should also be strong and accurate throwers across 
the diamond; true, they have not so much of it to 
do as have the third-baseman and short-stop, but 
like the Texan who, when he needs his gun, 
" needs it badly," the first-baseman who is 
called upon to stop a steal of third wants to be 
just as good a thrower to bases as any other man 
in the team. It is a long throw, and the truer and 
faster the ball goes, the better. Two or three 
prominent first-basemen I might name have no 
confidence whatever in themselves when it comes 
to putting the ball across the diamond. From 
every stand-point, I think Beckley may be regard- 
ed as an ideal first-baseman. He is a strong and 
accurate thrower; he is quick to think, and agile 
as a cat; he has height and reach, and is not 
handicapped by a pound of superfluous fat or 
muscle. He is also a strong batter and a good 
base-runner. Connor, though possessed of a 
great reach, is too heavy. His reach and his 
batting ability constitute his greatest value as a 
player. Anson also is too heavy, and of late 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 51 

lacks the agility which in years past has charac- 
terized him as the most active big man in the 
business. In Jay Faatz we find the other extreme. 
His reach is too great to admit of his handling 
himself quickly. Beckley, however, is the happy 
medium between angularity and avoirdupois, 
between surplus muscle and elongated awkward- 
ness, which every team-manager would do well 
to hit upon in his search for first-base talent. 

The remaining in-field positions, without ques- 
tion, have furnished more examples of the degree 
of skill, judgment, and agility that may be 
attained upon the ball-field, than have all of the 
remaining positions combined. The strength of 
a team is determined, to a greater extent, by the 
ability and experience of its in-fielders, than by 
anything else, perhaps, save a good team-captain. 
A team may have one, or even two, novices in the 
out-field; it may have an ordinary pitcher in the 
box, and a lame catcher behind the bat; but if 
it has got a " stonewall " in-field, it will put up a 
game that wiH surely please the crowd, and keep 
the other side guessing until the last ball has been 
batted. 

Billy Nash, Joe Mulvey, Tom Burns, and Jerry 
Denny, as third-basemen; Jack Glasscock, Ned 
Williamson, and John Ward, as short-stops, and 
Danny and Hardy Richardson, Al Myers, and Cub 



52 Stories of the Base hall Meld. 

Strieker, are unquestionably the greatest league 
players in tlieir positions of the past decade. 
There are others, of course, whose work has 
claimed a fair share of public notice, but they 
have owed much of tlieir success to the general 
excellence of the in-fields they have been a part 
of. 

In Wilmot, I believe Chicago has secured one 
of the greatest out-fielders of the league; not 
that his fielding ability is superior to that of 
Evan, Duffy, Johnston, Kelly, or Gore, but 
because he combines what ability he has in that 
direction with plenty of hitting power, while he 
also has few equals as a base-runner. In an out- 
fielder the public expects to find every qualifica- 
tion of a ball-player. It seems to think he should 
be a good batsman, a sprinter, an unerring fielder, 
a base-runner, and a strong thrower, Why this 
is so, I can not imagine, unless it is that the field- 
ing work of an out-fielder, when compared with 
the in-field, seems so easy a job. The crank in the 
grand stand argues something like this: " Those 
fellows out there ouglit to do the bulk of the hrt- 
ting and base-running. Why, they've got things 
too easy. If a grounder gets by the in-field, the 
out-fielder has plenty of time to see it coming and 
stop it; if a fly -ball is batted, he generally has ample 
opportunity to gauge and get under it, while most 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 58 

of the time the in-field and the battery are doing 
the work." Fortunately for those who expect so 
much of out-field talent, the rank and file of out- 
fielders are excellent general players, the out- 
field contributing very largely to the sprinters, 
throwers, batsmen, and base-runners of the pro- 
fession. And in this respect the out-field tal- 
ent of to-day is better than it was ten years ago. 
Indeed, the same may be said of all the players 
upon a ball-field. The time has passed when a 
pitcher or a catcher can satisfy a team-manager 
or a crowd of spectators by being a good pitcher 
or a good back-stop. The average team-manager 
is not looking so much for a man who can put up 
a brilliant fielding game in center, at short, or at 
second-base, and who has exhausted his abilities 
as a player when he has done that much. On the 
contrary, the base-ball manager of to-day would 
a good deal rather have a man who was a strong 
batter and base-runner, even if he were not so 
good a fielder. It is the general ball-player who 
is commanding the salary to-day, and this will be 
more and more the case with each coming year in 
the history of base ball. 

The split between the league and the brother- 
hood can not but result in throwing a new crop 
of young ball-players upon the market during 
the next year or two. It will also, I imagine, 



64 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

result in better ball-playing than the league has 
seen for years. Young ball-players with reputa- 
tions to make and their futures before them, 
will be apt to throw plenty of dash and spirit 
into their play; and with each of the old league 
teams possessing enough seasoned talent to act 
as ballast, latent talent (and I ween there is lots 
of it among the list of young players the league 
is signing) will not be long in developing. Next 
fall I shall be glad of the opportunity, in the 
second volume of this series, to review the work 
of the reorganized league teams of 1890, and say 
something as to the list of new batters, fielders, 
and base-runners that this factional fight in base 
ball will have developed. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 55 



CHAPTER IV. 

ODD YARNS OF THE DRESSING-ROOM AND 

DIAMOND, 

As a rule, there is little of the serious in a ball- 
player's make-up. Generally in perfect physical 
condition, he has none of the ills that human 
flesh is heir to, to sour his disposition and act as 
a drag to the enthusiasm of his young manhood. 
Possessed of a salary that enables him, by work- 
ing seven months in the twelve, to live like a pros- 
perous young merchant, and lay by a goodly sum 
each year in addition, he is never troubled as to 
the state of his finances; while being engaged in a 
business that is really a pastime, and unques- 
tionably a pleasure to him, there is small wonder 
that the life of the average professional ball- 
player is full of good things; that his spirits are 
almost continually effervescing in practical jokes 
and clever stories; that humor with him is in the 
ascendency, and that each season is prolific of 
laughable incidents and interesting situations, 
both on and off the ball-field. 

Has it ever occurred to the average lover of 



50 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

athletic sports that there are fewer instances of 
ill feeling, of personal enmity and personal 
encounters, among the ball -players of the lead- 
ing organizations of the country; that there is a 
more fraternal feeling; that there are less petty 
jealousies and differences than is the case in any 
profession where men are brought together in 
competition for public favor and personal gain? 
True, there are exceptions to the rule of good- 
fellowship and light-hearted indifference to the 
more serious and disagreeable things in life that 
mark the characters of the rank and file of 
players. Arrogance, conceit, and other unpleas- 
ant characteristics will occasionally crop out in 
the jolliest of professional teams; but in such 
instances the player who exhibits them is let 
alone by his fellows, and is made to feel, by the 
neglect and dislike his companions hold him in, 
that he is not one of them. The dramatic pro- 
fession has its Hoppers, Bells, Robsons, Cranes, 
Wilsons, and Goodwins; and just so the base-ball 
profession has its Kellys, Fogartys, Healys, 
O'Learys, Gallaghers, and a host of others whose 
natural wit, good nature, and happy dispositions, 
as well as their ability, have made them bright 
lights in their chosen calling, and never-to-be-for- 
gotten favorites among the thousands of base-ball 
patrons throughout the land. Many laughable 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 57 

incidents and almost innumerable instances of 
native wit and humor among ball-players have 
come under my notice during the years that I 
have been among them in the capacity of a news- 
paper correspondent, and I doubt not that the 
following pages will recall many others to such of 
my readers as may be personally acquainted with 
the players who figure in these anecdotes. Of 
course, the great trip of the American teams in 
the recent tour of the world was prolific of them. 
A jollier party could scarcely have been gotten 
together, and rare indeed are the instances in 
which circumstances and conditions afforded 
greater opportunity for the display of innate wit 
and humor, or resulted in a greater number of 
unusual situations calculated to excite the fun- 
loving natures of the participants. 

At this moment I recall an incident of our 
game at Birmingham, England, over which I have 
laughed heartily many times since we sailed from 
Queenstown in the " Adriatic." Long John 
Healy did most of the pitching for All- America 
on the tour, and Fred Carroll, of Pittsburgh, 
covered first-base. Carroll was eternally "chew- 
ing" at Healy, and old John would generally 
"chew" back for a few seconds, and end up in a 
fit of laughter before he delivered the ball. If 
there was a base-runner on first, however, Healy 



68 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

would generally get even with Fred by firing the 
ball at Carroll half a dozen times, so hard that it 
kept Carroll's palms itching for the rest of the 
inning, while Fred would grow madder with 
each ball thrown, until, before the long pitcher let 
up, the first-baseman had grown fairly red-headed. 
Well, we had a big crowd out to see the game in 
Birmingham, and there were scores of English- 
men present who scoffed at the game, and insisted, 
before it began, that it was " nothing but round- 
ers/' The press-table sat to the right of the 
home-plate, just about on a line with the pitcher's 
box and first-base, and around it, in addition to 
Macmillan, Goodfriend, and myself, sat a score of 
English new r spaper-men and their friends, to- 
gether with several Birmingham cricketers, who 
wanted to learn the points of the game. Game 
began, and it was not long before Healy and 
Carroll began to "chew." Finally, Tener hit a 
grounder toward Healy, and John threw a little 
wild to first, so that Carroll had to run up a bit 
to take it. Down the line came Tener, and the 
force with which he struck Carroll sent both 
players head over heels clear over the base-bag. 
Carroll picked himself up and began to "chew" at 
the rate of ninety words a minute, and the more 
he " chewed," the harder John Healy laughed, 
until he had Carroll fairly crazy. Tener was also 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 59 

in a bad humor, and play was finally recommenced 
with all three of the players in a decidedly resent- 
ful mood. Finally, Tener began to lead off the 
bag, and Healy, after feinting once or twice, sent 
the ball at Carroll — and, let me tell you, that ball 
actually whistled! Carroll didn't see it when 
John let it go, and when he did see it, it was 
about three feet in front of his face, and the way 
he dropped was a picture. Just at this moment 
a fat, florid-faced little Englishman jumped over 
the railing of the spectator' s stand as, in answer to 
the inquiry of one of the cricketers at the press- 
table, he was shouting: "It's rounders, don't 
you know, I've just tumbled; it's rounders, and 
nothink else." As he got the last word out of 
his mouth the ball struck him. Had I not seen 
Carroll dodge, it would have struck me, but I 
dropped just in time, and it caught the little 
Englishman, who stood just back of me, square 
upon the front of his ample pod. There was a 
dull thud, a gasp, and a groan, and the little 
Englishman fell over a chair with not enough 
wind left in his body to fill a penny whistle. 
When he finally did speak, he said: " Blessed if 
that ain't the bloominest rounders ball I ever 
felt. They must make 'em a deal harder in 
Ameriky than they make 'em in Birminam." 
Healy couldn't pitch ball a little bit for two 



CO 8t of the Base Ball Field. 

innings afterward for laughing, although the 
teams played a ten-inning tie game, and one of 
the prettiest of the trip. 

Our party had a delightful time at Belfast. 
There was a great crowd at the game in the after- 
noon, and that evening the North of Ireland 
Cricket Club tendered us a banquet (the mayor 
of Belfast presiding) at the club-house upon the 
cricket-grounds. I was late finishing up my 
dispatches to the New York Herald that evening, 
and it was probably nine o'clock when I got into 
a cab and started for the club-house out on the 
Ormeau road. Finally I drew up at the gate, 
just as Jimmy Ryan appeared and told me that 
the banquet was about over. Just behind Jimmy 
was a ditch about six feet deep, its bottom cov- 
ered with dirty water and a foot of black mud. 
A platform crossed the ditch from the sidewalk 
to the club-house gate, and while I was talking 
with Ryan, undecided whether or not I would go 
in or return to the hotel, a portly figure in full 
evening costume, issued from the gate, and, cross- 
ing the platform, asked the cabmen, a number of 
whom were outside the park, if his carriage had 
come. The cabmen did not know, and after 
another question the portly gentleman stepped 
upon the platform to re-enter the club-house 
grounds. His foot struck the end of a scantling, 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 61 

however, and down he went, headfirst, into the 
nasty pool at the bottom of the ditch. Ryan 
threw up both hands and howled; the cabmen 
guffawed, and redoubled their laughter when 
the unfortunate wearer of the dress-suit scrambled 
up the bank, bespattered from head to foot, and 
the black muck dripping from his hands, hair, 
and shirt front. 

" Who and what are you laughing at?" sput- 
tered the old gent, at which the cabmen laughed 
harder than ever. 

" Get out of here, every one of you!" shouted 
the now exasperated and very much soiled old 
gentleman. " Take your cabs off this street. I'd 
have you kuow I'm the mayor of Belfast. D — n 
it all, look at me!" with which he quickly crossed 
the platform, and slammed the gate after him. 

" Let's go, Jimmy," I suggested, and Ryan and 
I entered my cab for the hotel. Jim has since 
frequently told the story of the Irish gentleman's 
mishap, though neither of us stopped at the time 
to find out whether or not the unfortunate was 
really the city's chief executive. 

Not wishing to appear selfish in the matter of 
yarn- spinning, the author, a few weeks ago, pen- 
ciled a line to some of his fellow correspond- 
ents, with a request that if they had anything 



62 Stories of the Base Ball Field, 

really good, to let it come this way. Many of the 
boys were too busily engaged with the work of 
their respective papers to fall in line, but as many 
more promptly responded, and the following con- 
tributions from able pens will, the writer feels 
sure, prove interesting. 



PETE BROWNING BANCROFT MEANT BUSINESS — 

ONE ON DAN O' LEAKY — HOW " CHRIS" SET- 
TLED A POINT IN DISPUTE — " BID " M'PHEE'S 
FIRST RECEPTION — ONE OF " YANK " ROBIN- 
SON'S EXPERIENCES. 

" The prof essional base-ball player of to-day," 
writes Harry AVeldon, of the Cincinnati Eu- 
quirer, " leads a life that, to all appearances, is 
an enviable one. In season, he lives in an atmos- 
phere of festivity, excitement, and ovation. The 
hum-drum monotony attending the ordinary busi- 
ness walk of life does not enter into the national 
game. The kaleidoscope-like changes that are 
constantly occurring leave no room for ennui. 
Every day unfolds something new. No two games 
of base ball are alike, and in this regard the pro- 
fessional base-ballist has an advantage over the 
professional actor. The last-named profession is 
the only one that approaches professional base 
ball in the matter of excitement. The average 
actor, however, has but one turn or one set 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 63 

speech, and constant repetition causes the life to 
become dull and tiresome. Nine out of every ten 
members of the base-ball profession are possessed 
of light hearts, and know not the meaning of the 
word ' care. 5 Among such a large number of rol- 
licking, happy-go-lucky individuals, it would be 
strange indeed were there not many incidents 
and anecdotes well worth telling. Many stories 
have been told about players, managers, and mag- 
nates, and when casting about for material for 
this article, the writer, in the short space of time 
allotted him by the author of this book, has suc- 
ceeded, he thinks, in hitting upon a few incidents 
that have not been worn threadbare by constant 
repetition in print. 

" Lewis Browning is not a $10,000 beauty, or 
even a 5-cent one, for that matter, for he is rather 
homely; for all that, however, he is one of the 
best-known professionals now before the public. 
His convivial habits and laughable escapades have 
made him notorious, and among a certain class he 
is very popular. Not one patron of the game 
out of every fifty is acquainted with his proper 
name, for he has been known as ' Old Pete ' 
Browning ever since he played on the common. 
He himself is responsible for this change in his 
cognomen, for he always refers to himself as ' Old 
Pete 5 or 'The Gladiator.' 7 



04 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

i 

"Pete has been playing ball professionally 

since 1880, and can say what no other ball-player 
of such a long experience can — in all that time he 
has never been hit with a pitched ball. The plain 
facts in the case are that no one is able to hit him. 
'The Gladiator' has a mortal dread of being 
' soaked ' by an 'in-shoot,' and some of the great 
pugilists could, with profit to themselves, take 
lessons from him in what is known in ring par- 
lance as 'ducking.' A member of the Louisville 
team told me, recently, that he would bet $100, and 
post the money, that there was not a pitcher in 
the country, no matter how swift his delivery, 
who could hit Browning in three trials in the 
regulation pitching distance./ He said he would 
not bar either ' Silver ' King or Ed Crane. Pete 
is a terrific batter. His position at the bat is a 
picture — he stands erect, with his bat swung over 
his shoulder. His personal habits may interfere 
with his fielding, but they certainly have no 
appreciable effect on his batting. He has a great 
'eye,' and will not go after a bad one. The ball 
must come over the plate before he will attempt 
to hit it. When he does select a ball, he steps 
forward in the box, his bat whizzes through the 
air, and when it meets the sphere he throws the 
weight of his body with the blow, and the ball 
leaves his bat with almost the force of a rifle-shot. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 65 

On account of his batting ability, pitchers used 
to dread "The Gladiator.' In olden days, when 
there was no penalty for hitting a batter with a 
pitched ball, twirlers used to attempt to drive 
Browning away from the plate by pitching at 
him. Mullane always followed this plan, and 
Pete had a holy horror of ' Tricky ' Tony. Time 
and again Mullane has knocked off ' The Gladi- 
ator's cap, or hit the bulge in his flannel shirt, 
but has never been able to get a fair soak at the 
'Pride of Louisville.' Although Pete comes of 
a good family, and will some day inherit a nice 
estate, he is not the best-read man in Kentucky, 
£nd many stories of the Mrs. Partington order 
are told at his expense. Pete is not as stupid, 
however, as his talk would seem to suggest, and, 
with an eye to the main chance, he has turned 
these stories to his owti advantage. He is fond 
of seeing his name in print, and treasures every 
article that appears about him, no matter whether 
good, bad, or indifferent. He thinks they are a 
good advertisement, and Pete is a great believer 
in advertising. He is sociable and communica- 
tive, and in every city he visits makes it his busi- 
ness to become acquainted with as many people 
as possible. Even on the trains, when with his 
team on trips, ' The Gladiator ' would get out at 
every little water-tank town and introduce him- 

5 



66 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

self to the few rustics he found on the platform. 
This kind of advertising helped him, and no mat- 
ter where the Louisvilles played, or how badly they 
were playing, Browning was sure to be recognized 
and given a ' hand ' every time he came to the 
bat. His friends in the stand would rally and 
make ' The Gladiator ' lift his cap in acknowl- 
edgment of the applause. 
i k k Browning has been fined and suspended times 
innumerable for intemperance, but the punish- 
ment had little effect. Probably his most flagrant 
breach of discipline occurred in Kansas City last 
season. Pete looked upon the wine when it was 
red in an all-night session, and early the next 
morning became possessed with the idea that it 
was a good day to 'go a-fishing.' Rain was 
pouring down in torrents when Pete purchased a 
long bamboo pole and a hook and line. While 
the rest of the Louisville team were preparing to 
leave the city, Pete was seated in a chair in front 
of the Midland Hotel, with his hook and line cast 
in the muddy water that was running in the 
gutter. The Louisville manager was so provoked 
by this escapade that he left Browning in Kansas 
City. The latter was not able to raise any money, 
and was forced to ride home ' on his trunk ' two 
days later." 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 67 

" Frank Bancroft is a plain-spoken manager, 
who never minces words, but calls things by their 
right names, at all times and places. Once, when 
he had charge of the Worcester team, a recruit 
from a minor league was sent to him for trial. 
The youngster came highly recommended, and 
was put in the out-field in a championship game. 
He only had three chances, and made three glaring 
errors. Bancroft looked glum and out of sorts 
at the close of the game. The recruit seemed to 
appreciate the fact that he was the cause of the 
manager's bad humor, and, stepping up to him, 
said: ' Mr. Bancroft, I was a little off this after- 
noon.' 

" 'Yes,' said Bancroft, 'and you'll be a darn 
sight farther off to-morrow afternoon;' with 
which he handed the recruit a railroad ticket to 
his home, several hundred miles away." 

"One of the prominent characters of the na- 
tional game is genial, hustling, and original Dan 
O'Leary. Possessed of a happy-go-lucky dispo- 
sition, Dan's smile is just as bright and his greet- 
ing just as cordial when he has not the price of 
the next meal as when he is drawing a big salary 
for looking after the interests of some base-ball 
team. Dan never went back on a friend in the 
hour of need, and, if necessary, would split his last 



68 of the Base Ball Field. 

dollar in two to help out even an acquaintance. 
He is one of Nature's noblemen, and if lie could 
now realize on mental ' tabs ' lie holds against 
improvident players and others to whom he Las 
loaned various sums, he would be well provided 
for in this world's goods. Dan lived in Cincin- 
nati for about five months, and during that time 
managed to get on speaking terms with every 
man, boy, and dog between the Ohio River and 
Burnet Woods Park. He was plain ' Dan ' to 
everybody, from a boot-black up to a banker. 
He was employed, wdiile in Cincinnati, as manager 
of the Cincinnati Union association club. Every- 
body who has kept run of base ball knows that 
this organization had in its ranks some of the 
banner boozers of the country. ' Father ' Kelly, 
' Yaller Bill ' Harbidge, Frank McLaughlin, and 
kindred spirits were on the Union club's pay- 
roll. On account of the bibulous inclinations of 
some of the players, President Thorner issued a 
strict order against drinking intoxicants. One 
day Tim Murnane, or rather Murnan — for Tim had 
not then indulged in journalism, and did not 
aspire to the height of a final 'e' — came along 
with the Boston Unions. Now the Boston crowd 
had always been a troublesome one for the local 
team, and had won nearly every previous game 
that had been played. This day O'Leary's men 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 69 

carried off the honors in a ten-inning struggle. 
O' Leary was in high feather, and when the team 
repaired to the dressing-room he was not slow in 
congratulating the players for their fine work. 
' That was a tough game/ said 'Father' Kelly; 
'I am nearly played out. I wish I had some 
beer to cool off my " coppers." ' 

" 'Beer! Did you say beer?' cried Dan in an 
excited manner. ' Here, boy, take this pail and 
go to the nearest saloon; bring it back full of Ger- 
man tea,' said Dan, as he handed a big tin vessel 
to a boy and told him to hurry. All of the 
prize lushers were happy in anticipation of 
soon being able to 'blow off a few,' when, who 
should pop into the dressing-room but President 
Tliorner himself. O' Leary saw he was in an 
unpleasant predicament. He realized that he was 
about to be discovered in a flagrant breach of the 
rules, and his active brain began to work for some 
way out of the scrape. A moment later, and the 
boy rushed into his presence with the bucket filled 
to the brim with foaming lager. 

" 'Here's your beer, Mr. O' Leary,' said the boy. 
Dan jumped to his feet in an excited manner. 
The time had come to make a ' front,' and Dan was 
equal to the emergency. He swung his hands in 
the air and fairly jumped all over the dressing- 
room as he yelled, in a tragic voice: ' Beer! 



?o Stories of the Base. Ball Field. 

Holy jumping Jeliosaphat! who sent for beer? I 
told you to get milk.' 

k * The idea of a manager sending several blocks 
to get a bucketful of milk for thirsty ball-players 
struck his hearers as being so ridiculous that it was 
hailed with a loud guffaw all around. Even good- 
natured President Thorner joined in the laugh, 
and was one of the first to help put down his share 
of the growler' s contents. 






u When President VonderAhe pulled out of 
the savings bank the most of his hard earnings 
and invested it in resurrecting the national game 
in St. Louis, he knew as much about base ball as a 
porker does about theology. Chris had had no ex- 
perience then, but was plucky and game enough to 
risk his money in the venture when no one else 
would touch it with a pair of tongs. The St. 
Louis magnate has grown up with the game, and 
no one can give him points now. In 1882, when 
he first embarked in the business, the Athletics 
visited the Mound City. Sportsman's Park has 
a short right-field, and in olden days there was a 
ground rule which only allowed two bases for a 
hit over this fence. On the day in question, 
nothing was said about the rule before the game. 
Stovey was the first man up, and he lifted the 
ball into the street on the other side of the fence 



Stories of tire Base Bail Field. 71 

and- completed the circuit. Comiskey came in at 
once and demanded that he be sent back to second. 
Stovey protested, and both teams gathered around 
the Umpire. President Von der Ahe was in the 
grand stand, but did not understand the cause of 
the commotion. Finally, he climbed over the 
rail and approached the crowd. 'Vot's de mat- 
ter here, Commie; vy don't you blay?' 

"'Oh, Stovey hit the ball over the fence and 
wants to take a home-run,' said the great Captain. 
' I want him to live up to the ground rule and go 
back to second. What will we do about it?' 

" 'Yell, I tell you,' said St. Louis' chief, as he 
threw out his chest, hitched up his trousers and 
looked wise, 'my opinion is dat vot's knocked 
is knocked, und vot's ofer de fence is ofer de 
fence. Go ahead mit der game.' This logic and 
comprehensive remark of the St. Louis chieftain 
was enough to convince everybody that he knew 
his business.' ' 

" Speaking of first impressions being often mis- 
leading, is a reminder that 'Bid' McPhee, now 
one of the acknowledged second-basemen of the 
country, was at the outset accorded a very cold 
reception in Cincinnati. When the old 1882 
Queen City association team was being organized, 
McPhee, along with Sam Wise and Rudolph 



1% Stories of the ISase Ball Field. 

Kemmler, of the celebrated Akron team, were 
secured to play in Cincinnati. As the spring ap- 
proached and the time for reporting drew near, 
McPhee, who held the position of book-keeper in 
a business house in Akron, became possessed 
with the idea that he had achieved all the fame 
and glory that he desired in knickerbockers, and 
that he would settle down to be a staid busi- 
ness man. It required considerable persua- 
sion to induce him to give up his books, and 
it was only after dozens of letters had been 
written and several trips made to Akron that he 
decided to continue his career on the diamond. 
Finally, 'Biddy- reported, and the first day he 
played he put up 'a very much Blue-Grass 
League' game on second-base. The crowd, on 
account of the extensive advertising he had re- 
ceived, did not treat him charitably. They gave 
him hoots and jeers, and McPhee was in anything 
but a comfortable frame of mind. ' What broke 
me up worse than anything else was a little epi- 
sode that occurred after the game/ said McPhee. 
4 1 boarded a Clark-street car as soon as I changed 
my clothes, and leaned against the rail of the rear 
platform, which was crowded with base-ball enthu- 
siasts going home. In my citizen's attire none of 
the cranks knew me. They had evidently lost 
some money on the game, and as I had contrib- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 73 

uted more than anyone else to the Waterloo, I 
was the special target for their abuse. "That 
stiff they played on second-base to-day made 
me sick/' said one of the crowd. " What's his 
name? McPhee? Yes, that's it. May be he 
didn't work the Cincinnati club about wanting to 
keep books! He ought to have stayed in Akron. 
He may be a h — 1 of a good book-keeper, but 
he's a d — n bad ball-player." And so it went. I 
dropped off the car without making my identity 
known, and at that time fully coincided with their 
views that I could do better at book-keeping than 
I could at ball-playing. I was badly broken up 
over my first game in Cincinnati. 5 " 

" Yank Robinson, of the St. Louis Browns, is 
of a peculiar temperament. He has a decided 
aversion to riding in a sleeping-car, or rather 
against retiring in a berth and sleeping the sleep 
of the just, like a plain, every-day mortal. Robbie 
evidently thinks his chances for getting out alive 
in a railroad wreck are far better when sitting up 
in a car, in his day attire, than when reclining in 
a berth, wrapped in the arms of Morpheus and 
one of Pullman's $10 blankets. 

' i Anyhow, Robinson will not go to bed while on 
a sleeper, if he can help it. His failure to turn in 
with the rest of the members of the team, one 



; i Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

night, during the writer s official connection with 
the St. Louis club, was the cause of the little 
second-baseman getting into a ludicrous scrape. 
After the St. Louis chief and all the players had 
retired, Robbie quietly sneaked into the smoking- 
car in the front part of the train, where he joined 
' Foghorn ' Bradley, then an association Umpire, 
in a quiet siesta, in which lunch, beer, and cigar- 
ettes were agreeable embellishments. Robbie was 
in an excellent humor until the conductor shot 
athwart his vision. That official flashed the lan- 
tern in Robinson' s face, and, in a suave manner, 
said, 'Tickets, please.' 

" 'That's all right; I'm a member of the St. 
Louis Browns,' said Robinson, in a confident 
manner. 

" 'That don t go,' said the conductor; 'the 
St. Louis Browns are in the rear sleeper.' 

" ' I know that,' said Robbie; ' I left them and 
came out here to smoke. You know me; I am 
the second-baseman.' 

" ' Go on,' said the conductor; 'I know Robin- 
son — you're not him. Come, give me your ticket; 
no more monkey-business.' 

" ' I have no ticket; President Yon der Ahe has 
all the tickets,' said Robbie. 

" ' Well, I'll see about that,' said the conductor, 
as lie shimmed the door and started for the 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 75 

sleeper. Here he found President Von der Ahe's 
berth, and shook the St. Louis chief out of a 
sound slumber. 

" ' Vot you yant? 5 indignantly inquired Chris. 

" ' There is a man out in the smoker who says 
he belongs to your team; I came to find out about 
him,' said the conductor. 

"'He don't belong to der Browns,' said the 
irate president. ' All my men are in bet: don't 
vake me up again for such a ting.' 

"This was enough, and the conductor returned 
to the smoker. ' Yon der Ahe don't know you,' 
said the conductor, angrily, as he approached 
Robinson; so settle at once, or get off.' 

"Robinson thought the matter over; he con- 
cluded it was better to pay the fare than to wake 
Chris up again, and take chances of being soaked 
a big fine for being out after hours. He settled, 
paying fare from St. Louis to Indianapolis. The 
next morning, when all the members of the team 
were performing their ablutions, Robinson joined 
them as if he had just gotten out of his berth. A 
moment later, the conductor came through. Rob- 
inson saw him, and tried to give him the ' office ' 
to keep still. It was no go. 

" ' There is the fellow who said he belonged to 
your team,' blurted out the conductor to Von der 
Ahe, as he pointed to Robinson. 



76 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

"'Get out,' said Robinson, angrily; 'you're 
too blankety -blank fresh!' 

" < Is dot so?' said Chris. ' Veil, Mishter Rob- 
inson, you' re fined $25 for being out after hours. 



TROUBLES AND ADVENTURES OF BILLY HARRING- 
TON'S FAMOUS "CHICAGO BLUES," OR A 
WINTER'S TOUR IN THE SOUTHLAND, AS TOLD 
BY HARRINGTON. 

In these days, when professional ball-players 
" on the road" enjoy the best traveling and hotel 
accommodations that money can procure, the 
hardships of ten, twelve, and fifteen years ago are 
rarely referred to, save, perhaps, when a party of 
old-time players get together in a reminiscent 
mood. The following faithful account of the 
travels of a Chicago team, however, as told by 
"Billy" Harrington, of the Chicago Blues, and 
Frank Rheims, at that time one of the party, 
though now an attache of the house of A. G. 
Spalding & Bros., will doubtless revive many 
interesting experiences in the memories of the 
old-timers who read it. The account is printed 
just as Rheims and Harrington have given it to 
me. 

" It was early in the spring of 1886," said Har- 
rington to the writer, one afternoon, while Frank 
Rheims stood by, to occasionally add an incident to 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 77 

the yarn, u that the famous Chicago Blues started 
upon a tour of the Southern cities, and I shall 
never forget my experiences upon the trip, if I 
live to be 100 years old. There were fourteen of 
us — all big, strong, husky fellows — bent, of course, 
upon making a record that would startle the 
world, and we really had quite a team. Compos- 
ing it were the only Pete Gallagher, Nat Hudson, 
Elmer Foster, Elmer Sutcliffe, Eddie Hogan, 
Tony Suck, Prank Rheims, Billy Roach, George 
Rooks, Ed Stapleton, Charley Cady, Billy 
Williams, Jim Gleason, and myself. 

u The trip was made ; on suspicion.' No man 
in the party possessed a dollar. I managed to 
get the tickets for the first jump of about 800 
miles — Chicago to Columbus, Ga. The fare one 
way, at the two-cents-a-mile rate, * was $16, 
making the aggregate expense of the party 
$224. Unfortunately, Willie was short a con- 
siderable portion of this amount, so he pur- 
chased seven tickets, and these, together with 
a pass written in favor of himself, constituted 
the documents for the entire party. You can 
believe me, therefore, when I tell you that there 
were some almighty pretty sparring exhibitions 
with the different train conductors en route. 
Rooks, Suck, and two or three others of the 
boys were conspicuously absent from the party 



Stories of the Base Ball Find. 

A 

throughout the greater portion of the journey. 
Part of the time they were between the seats, 
with grips, overcoats, and bat-bags piled upon 
them, and they rode many a mile, I can tell you, 
hanging on to the rear platform of the sleeper — 
the last car on the train. Each and every man of 
our party will surely feel an everlasting sense of 
obligation to Rooks and Tony Suck, especially, 
for the self-sacrificing spirit they displayed on 
that journey. We changed conductors not less 
than seven times en route, and, of course, that 
made things all the more pleasant for us; but 
before we reached Columbus I had the boys 
drilled to the queen's taste. When a new con- 
ductor struck the train, every man of them knew 
just what was expected of him. Why, the 
Chicago fire department wouldn't have been in 
it with us for a minute. You see, we all knew 
it would be a case of doing the cheerful pedes- 
trian act the very first time any one of us made a 
bad break, and it would have done your heart 
good to see how nicely we gave the 'cons' the 
'double cross.' Before starting, I had painted 
rosy pictures of Columbus as a training-ground. 
I had told the boys that oranges, bananas, and 
big, mellow citrons grew wild in the streets, and 
might be plucked without the asking ; that the 
air was balmy, and that the country was crazy on 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 79 

base ball; so after we passed Cairo the boys were 
on the lookout for balmy air and oranges, and I 
am not sure but that some of them would have 
still been on the lookout had it not been for our 
chilled-steel nerve and phenomenal good luck. 

" After riding for two days and nights, we 
reached that ' Ruben ' town — Columbus; and 
right here is where our 'tale of woe 5 really 
began. We were to represent the Columbus base- 
ball club for a period of three weeks, and during 
that time were to play exhibition games with the 
Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago teams; but 
they failed to show up, and there we were, with a 
three-weeks' hotel bill staring us in the face, 
and 800 miles from dear old Chicago. After 
three weeks at Columbus, I had booked my team 
for two games each at Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, 
Charleston, Savannah, Nashville, and Louisville, 
so that the only thing left us to do was to 
get away from Columbus by some means and 
play our remaining dates. How to break away 
from the flinty-hearted landlord, however, was 
a sticker. No, he was not flinty -hearted; that is a 
mistake. He was so dod-blamed affectionate and 
so badly stuck on our entire party, that he posi- 
tively would not allow us out of his sight. O me! 
O my! it makes me gray -headed now to think 
upon the many nights I lay awake in that old 



80 Stories of the Base Ball Meld. 

Columbus inn, trying to devise some means of 
making the old man hot, so he would fire us, neck 
and crop. It finally came to a show-down, how- 
ever, and something had to be done; so I called 
my Indians together, one dark night, on a lone- 
some-looking street-corner, and I wish you could 
have seen that crowd. There wasn't a cent in the 
party, not even ' beer money;' and for want of a 
shave, each man had a crop of promising whiskers 
that would have made Jo Jo envious. Gallagher' s 
face had done more than anything else to put our 
landlord 'on,' and when I told him so, the look 
of offended dignity upon his classic mug made 
the gang double up, despite the gravity of our posi- 
tion. I had little hope that the meeting would 
result in a solution of our difficulties, but I was 
wholly unprepared for the display of confidence 
in my managerial abilities the boys made that 
evening. Under any other circumstances, I would 
have felt greatly honored, but as it was, I should 
have felt better satisfied had the boys placed less 
dependence in me and hustled for themselves. 
What could I do, however, when they whispered 
as with one accord, ' You brace the old man, 
Billy! You can talk him into giving us our rail- 
road fares out of town and a banquet as a send- 
off. Go it, old man; we'll all stay by you.' 

" I protested, but it was no good; and so we 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 81 

went to our rooms with the understanding that I 
should institute proceedings for a divorce from 
our hotel on the morrow. Well, next morning I 
did some heavy work, I found the landlord look- 
ing pleasant, but suspicious, and invited him for 
a walk, He was at heart a jolly old duck, and it 
only took a few funny stories to make him hold 
his sides and wrinkle his old mug until it looked 
like an animated plum-pudding.* I jollied him 
along as strong as I could; for, upon my word, I 
was afraid that when he learned the true state of 
affairs he would die of heart-disease, if there 
were not some counteracting sentiment to prevent 
it. Finally, I got around to business, and told 
him that we wanted to leave Columbus to play 
our dates in other cities, and that we would return 
to play the Chicago and Philadelphia teams two 
weeks later. The old fellow sobered down wonder- 
fully when I said this; there wasn't a bit of laugh 
left in him, and I watched him out of a corner of 
m y e Y e 5 n °t knowing just what to expect. He 
was foxy, however, and changed the subject; so 
that when we got back to the hotel I did not 
know any more as to how we stood than when we 
had started out. Just the same, I was up early 
next morning, and succeeded in ' holding up ' the 

* Those who know Harrington and his subtle tongue can 
appreciate the humor of this situation. 
6 



82 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

local managers for money enough with which to 
buy our railroad tickets to Atlanta, and then noti- 
fied the boys to be ready to take the 9.30 a. m. 
train out of town. It was 9 A. m. when I sent 
an express-wagon to the hotel for the trunks con- 
taining our uniforms. Gallagher and Rheims 
nailed the trunks, and started to pile them into 
the wagon, when Mr. Landlord tumbled. 

" 'How about dot bill?' he asked Pete. 

" Fortunately, I got in at this juncture, and 
said: 'My dear boy, the bill is all right; I just 
came from Mr. Bussey' s office (Bussey was one 
of the local club people), and I am to give you an 
order on him for our board in full.' 

"The old man looked at me, hesitatingly, for 
an instant; but I guess my honest face won him, 
and he said: 'O veil, dot's all right den; auf Mr. 
Bussey says so, go hed mit der drunks. 5 

" I nearly fainted with joy when he said this, 
but lost no time in getting those boxes on the 
wagon and starting the dray, with the boys 
behind it, for the depot. Then I sat down at the 
hotel writing-desk to write the order for our 
board-bill. Glancing at my watch, I saw it was 
but ten minutes to train -time; so I knew that Mr. 
Landlord could not get to Mr. Bussey' s bank and 
catch the train before our departure. Conse- 
quently I wrote out the order and handed it to 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 83 

mine host, shaking the dear old soul by the hand 
as I did so, and assuring him that we would return 
in two weeks' time. Then I cut out for the train, 
and got there just in time. The entire gang was 
on the rear platform when the departure bell 
rang; and may be we didn't yell as the train 
started, and, quickly increasing its speed, soon 
left Columbus far behind! We saw our landlord, 
however, before we got out of town. Just as the 
train started, we heard a yell up the main street; 
and there came old Dutchy in his buggy, on a 
dead run. He had evidently been to Bussey' s, and 
found out my little scheme. Lord, but my blood 
did stand still for a second as I saw him coming. 
He was too late, however, and we left him shaking 
his fist at us on the station platform, while four- 
teen very happy ball-players shook hands all 
around. 

" Wei], we arrived in Atlanta, only to find it 
raining. Result: no game and no money. Next 
day the Columbus landlord showed up, and 
attached our trunk; but I was on to his little 
game, and told the boys to take out the uniforms, 
put them in their grips, and substitute eight or 
ten fat bricks as weight for the trunk, together 
with plenty of loose newspapers to prevent their 
sliding. It was a droll sight to see the boys 
skirmishing around a neighboring brick-pile and 



84 Stories of tin Base Ball Field. 

hunting up old newspapers with which to carry 
out my instructions. We got the plunder all into 
the old trunk, however, and locked it up, just as 
though no change had been made in its contents. 
We played in Atlanta, the following day, to a fair 
crowd only, and left at 7.20 p. m. that evening. 
The uniform (f) trunk was brought over to the 
depot just in the old, sweet way, and the boys 
followed it, their sad faces well concealing their 
light hearts and their almost uncontrollable desire 
for laughter. On arrival at the depot, sure 
enough, we found Mr. Landlord and an officer 
awaiting us at the baggage-room, and the style in 
which they pounced upon that unoffending old 
trunk full of bricks made us grow serious for the 
moment, upon reflection as to what our position 
would have been had we not taken the precau- 
tionary measures before referred to. Pete Galla- 
t/ 

gher acted as spokesman for our party, and the 
wonder is that the landlord did not drop as a 
result of Pete's funny 'cracks.' 

4 ' ' Please check this trunk to Macon, ' said Pete to 
the baggageman, and the latter started to comply. 

"The officer present had received his cue, how- 
ever. ' Not to-day you won't, I guess,' said he, 
and then began to read his attachment papers, 
while the landlord stood by with a broad grin on 
his face, as he rubbed his hands in triumph. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 85 

"'Who are you?' asked Pete, looking at the 
officer and the landlord in well-feigned surprise. 

" 'Who vas mef interrupted his old hashlets. 
' I like dot; by golly, you vind oud who I vas. I 
guess you don' d blay some ball in der nexd town 
mitoud no uniforms, eh?' 

' ' ' Are you going to take our uniforms?' said 
Pete, and he began to sniffle like a school-boy, 
while the gang turned away and walked off to 
keep their sides from splitting. 

" 'Dot's it,' said Dutchy, promptly. 'I guess 
I stardt a ball team of mine own.' 

u 'O, you hard-hearted old man,' sobbed Pete; 
i are you really going to deprive us of a means of 
livelihood ? It' s a shame, that' s what it is, ain' t it, 
fellows?' appealing to the rest of the crowd. 
And then Pete turned in and pleaded for that old 
trunk in a style that would have done Bob Inger- 
soll credit. The landlord only chuckled, how- 
ever, and the officer was hard as flint. Finally, 
the bell rang, and the boys, with faces like first 
mourners, passed through the gates and boarded 
the train, leaving the officer in possession of his 
plunder, such as it was. I was not with the gang 
at the depot, as I feared a writ of habeas corpus^ 
and so boarded the train at the city limits, and 
the yells of laughter that greeted me when I 
entered the car must have made the balance of 



86 Stories of the Base Ball Meld. 

the passengers think they had struck a band of 
lunatics. 

" Next day Mr. Landlord showed up in Macon. 
He had evidently not examined the trunk, for he 
was struck dumb with astonishment when he saw 
us appear in the same old uniforms, for the game 
that afternoon. He proceeded to business just 
the same, however, and attached my share of the 
gate receipts. He kept me thinking for awhile 
on this play, but I dropped to a scheme that did 
him. You see, he attached only my share, which, 
as I arranged it, was but one-fourteenth of one- 
half the gross receipts. This amounted to just 
s3. 45, and that amount was left with the Macon 
base -ball club, to satisfy the attachment. I had 
the rest of the boys go to the box-office, one at a 
time, where each got his $3.45 and then brought it 
to me to take care of. The same thing was done 
next day, and Mr. Landlord, instead of catching 
8100 or so, as he thought he had, could not have 
received more than the price of his fare from 
Columbus to Macon and return. We lost him 
after leaving Macon, and none of the boys cried 
over his failure to keep up the chase, although we 
would gladly have squared our account with the 
old man could we have taken in the money. 

1 ' Our next stand was Savannah, and with our 
old Nemesis, the landlord, on the cattle-train 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 87 

for his old stamping-ground, everybody felt 
light-hearted and happy. We hadn't money 
enough to wipe a jaybird's bill with, but we kept 
right along playing ball in the Sunny South, and 
having a barrel of fun wherever we stopped. 
With the exception of a few arguments with rail- 
way conductors, everything went well until we 
reached Chattanooga. Here, however, we found 
the ball-park flooded with two or three feet of 
water, and the local managers told us we would 
have to drain it before we could play ball. Well, 
it was either do that or go hungry; so we rolled 
up our trousers, took off our shoes and socks, 
and went to work, and a more picturesque-look- 
ing gang of street-cleaners you never saw. The 
Nashville park was all under water, so that date 
was canceled, and we reached Louisville without 
a dollar in our pockets, but almighty happy to 
get that much nearer old Chicago. Jim Hart 
gave us two days in Louisville, but.it rained the 
first day, and the second day — well, it rained also, 
and our share of receipts for both games left 
us but $25, after our hotel bill had been 
paid. Twenty-five dollars, and 300 miles 
from Chicago! Just the same, I took the boys 
to the 6.30 train, and we boarded it, fourteen 
strong. As the train pulled out, I braced myself 
for the play of my life, and, to tell the truth, I 



88 Stories of tJie Base Ball Field. 

surprised myself. When I finished talking to 
that good, kind -hearted conductor, nothing was 
too good for the famous Chicago Blues, and we 
landed, safe and sound, in Chicago at 7.30 next 
morning, as thankful a lot of ball-players as there 
was in the country." 

"Yes," interposed George Rooks, who had 
come in toward the close of the story, "and we 
drew our dividends from the proceeds of the trip 
before we left the depot. I remember of receiving 
five cents as my share. Oh, it was a great old trip." 



RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LATE UMPIRE, DAVE SUL- 
LIVAN—A FUNNY SCENE ON THE BUFFALO 
GROUNDS — HOW JIM KEENAN STRUCK OUT — 
ONE OF DAN O'LEARY'S BREAKS— PETE GAL- 
LAGHER PLAYS u 'POSSUM"— HO W r JOHN BUR- 
DOCK W T ORRIED LEW BROWN. 

"One of the silliest things I ever did in my 
life," said the late Umpire, Dave Sullivan, to 
me shortly before his death, "I did in Buffalo, 
when Buffalo was a member of the National 
League. The Cleveland and Buffalo teams were 
playing; Buffalo was in, and Davy Force was 
at bat. He struck at a pitched ball and missed, 
and I called a strike. Force turned to me and 
said, 'That was a foul.' I said I had heard 
no foul, and the strike went. Well, the crowd 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 89 

in Buffalo was rather sore on umpires just at 
this particular time, as Doescher had suffered 
quite a roasting just before I was assigned there. 
One of the spectators had a pet dog with him on 
the day in question, and after Doescher had made 
a few decisions contrary to the opinions of the 
crow r d, this fellow tossed the dog out of the stand, 
and shouted: ' Throw that Dutchman over the 
fence, and let the dog umpire.' So you see they 
were ripe for more fun. 

" Well, after I had made the decision, they 
commenced to cry, ' Rah! rah! rah! rah! rum!' 
keeping pretty good dancing -time with their 
feet. After Cleveland went out in the following 
inning, and as I went up to dust the home-plate, 
the crowd was keeping such good time I thought 
I would take a hand myself, and I stepped on the 
plate and danced several steps to their music. 
Well, they yelled murder. Billy (Blondie) Pur- 
cell was playing left-field for Buffalo at that time, 
and he fell down on his way in, in a fit of laugh- 
ter. Curry Foley was in this game, as was also 
Jim McCormick. They have often spoken to me 
of that performance, saying it was the funniest 
thing they ever saw on a ball-field." 

' i All the old members of the Western League, 
which included Omaha, Kansas City, Milwaukee, 



dO Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

Indianapolis, Toledo, and Cleveland, will remem- 
ber liow solid Jim Keenan and Larry McKeon 
stood in Indianapolis — they owned the town. 
Indianapolis won the championship, hands down. 
A funny thing occurred, during a game between 
Indianapolis and Toledo, on the Toledo grounds. 
John Brennan, of Indianapolis, w T as the Umpire, 
and as the day was very warm, John thought 
he would be cute, and so he brought his umbrella 
with him. When he called game, he opened up 
his umbrella, and it remained open during the 
game. Imagine an Umpire umpiring a game in 
Chicago with an umbrella over his head — what a 
roasting he would get from the bleachers! Well, 
Keenan came to bat in — I think it was — the fifth 
inning, and he was then to the Western League 
what Buck Ewing is to the National League, and, 
of course, everything he said went. When he 
came to bat, Brennan called a strike on him, and 
he turned to argue the point with the Umpire; 
the pitcher, 'Big Stemmyer,' 'late of Bos- 
ton,' put the ball over the plate, and the Umpire 
called the second strike, and, on the next pitched 
ball, he walked up to Keenan and said, 'Say, 
Jimmy, lay down your bat; you are out on 
strikes.' I have never seen a man so angry in 
all my life, and if a look would have killed, poor 
John would have been done for on the spot." 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 91 

" Every one knows of the famous Dan O'Leary, 
the base-ball and theatrical manager. When 
Dan took the management of the Toledos, 
in 1884, he signed, among the many good players 
of that time, John Rainey, who played third base 
so cleverly last season for Buffalo. When Dan 
engaged John he signed to play third base, and 
early in the season John had miserable luck. 
He piled up error after error, but Dan said he 
was a ' comer,' and John was kept at third. The 
straw that broke the camel's back, however, came 
in the shape of eight errors in one of the Cleve- 
land-Toledo games. It was in the fifth inning, 
and old Joe Battin, Doc Kennedy, Bill Sweeney, 
and a few more of Cleveland's hard hitters, were 
putting them around John's shins pretty lively. 
John made error after error, until Dan could 
stand it no longer. He came down out of the 
stand, and, walking up to Jay Faatz, said, so 
everybody on the grounds could hear him : 

14 'Jay, Jay! for God's sake, put him in the 
field and bring in Jim McDonald.' 

" Well, the change was made, but John's hard 
luck followed him to the out-field, and there he 
muffed two flys, upon which Dan called to Faatz 
again : 

" 'Jay, Jay! put him on the other side of the 
fence, so that they can't see him.' 



62 Stories of the Base Ball Field, 

"Those acquainted with Dan O'Leary can 
appreciate this story." 

" Speaking of Dan, reminds me that at one time 
he was playing at Minneapolis, away back in '75, 
and during one of the games of that season the 
Umpire did not show up, so a man named 
McCarthy was chosen to act in his place. All 
ball-players who remember the erratic Dan's 
style will bring to mind what a great kicker he 
was, especially on strikes called on him. Well, 
during the game in question, the Umpire did 
not please Dan at all, and Dan kept up a contin- 
uous fire of objections to all the Umpire's rulings. 
Dan was at the bat in the fifth inning, and the 
Umpire called him out on strikes; upon which 
Dan dropped his bat, walked up in front of the 
grand stand, and then posing as only Dan can pose, 
said: ' Ladies and gentlemen, there isn't any use 

in our trying to win, while that 

is umpiring.' You can imagine the commotion 
his remark caused. Of course, Dan received 
his pay that night. 



n 



* 

* * 



"Pete Gallagher is another fun-maker, but 
Pete's humor is of a different order. Dan is 
always in earnest, while Pete is out for fun all 
the time. Give him an opening and see how 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 93 

quickly lie will take advantage of it. I remember 
one game especially in which Pete made a hit 
with me. Billy Harrington was running his 
famous Chicago Blues, and they numbered a 
great many of our local celebrities, including 
Milt Scott, Billy Yott, and Ed Merrill. The 
famous Pete Atkisson, the great pitcher of the 
Torontos during the past season (1889), was 
pitching for Michigan City, and Umbach, of the 
Ocean Brands, was catching him. They were a 
star team at that time, having defeated the 
Indianapolis, Cleveland, and several other teams 
playing in the major leagues. Well, Harrington 
wanted to win, and told the boys so, and they 
played hard and did win. In the sixth inning 
Gallagher made a base-hit, and stole second 
almost immediately. This safe steal made him 
bold, so he tried to steal third, and in doing so 
cut his hand, whereupon he made a great outcry, 
wanted time called, and wanted a great many 
other things. Finally, I asked him what he 
wanted, and he said, ' I want a runner. I can't 
run; I have hurt my hand. 5 " 

" Another funny thing happened to Ed Merrill, 
while playing with the famous Blues. Jack 
McQuade, the league Umpire, who was at that 



04 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 



\> 



time playing as good ball as any of the boys, was 
the cause of all the trouble. They were playing 
at a small town not a great distance from Chicago, 
and the Blues had out their best team. Just 
before the game commenced, McQuade made a bet 
of half a dollar with Merrill that the Blues would 
be defeated. Ed took him up, and told all the 
boys of the snap bet he had made with McQuade. 
But Jack had been there before Ed, and had all 
the boys promise to help him lose the game. 
First a ball would come at Gallagher on third, 
and he would throw it over the first-baseman's 
head. Then Billy Yott would throw it out into 
center-field. Everybody, it seemed to Ed, had 
taken on a crazy fit. And what a game Ed him- 
self did play! It was the greatest game of his 
life. He played short that day, but he was 
everywhere. If a ball was hit into left-field, he 
was there; if hit to second-base, he was there; he 
took them away from Gallagher at third; in fact, 
he played as if his life depended upon the result 
of the game. He could have defeated the home 
team easily, but the Blues wanted to play a close 
game, so as to draw a good crowd the following day, 
and, in fact, did not care about winning the game. 
Merrill, however, had bet half a dollar on the 
result, and he was going to win, if hard playing 
could do it, and he would have won the bet if 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 95 

McQuade had not called off the bet and told Ed 
to let up." 

" Talking about base-ball stories," continued 
Dave, " reminds me of an incident that happened 
at the Clifton House, in this city, some years ago, 
when Lew Brown and John Burdock were mem- 
bers of the Boston team. Lew and ' Burdy ' were 
generally paired, and they made a pair to draw 
to. One night Burdock retired rather early 
(something unusual for 'Burdy'), and was after 
his first sleep when he heard Brown coming up the 
hall toward the room. John quietly slipped out 
of bed and locked the door, and when Brown 
tried it, of course he found it locked, and then 
commenced to pound on the door, and calling out, 
' 'Burdy,' 'Burdy.' ' But 'Burdy' could not, or 
rather would not, hear. Then Brown went back 
to the office to see if he had not made a mistake. 
But no, the key was not there, and back he went 
to the room and tried the door again, but with 
the same result. It would not open. Brow r n was 
pretty tired, and he was on the list to catch the 
next day, so he wanted as much sleep as he could 
get, and he wanted to have that sleep in his own 
room and on his own bed. So dragging a large 
settee, that stood near by, to the door, he tried to 
get through the transom. Imagine a man of Lew 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

Brown's size (260 pounds) trying to get through a 
transom on a warm summer night! The lan- 
guage he used he never learned at Sunday-school. 
1 Burdy ' was wide awake all this time, listening to 
Brown cursing — first the key, then the door, 
then the transom, and lastly Burdock. Well, 
after one very hard struggle Brown got back on 
the top of the settee, and Burdock had in the 
meantime turned the key in the door. Brown 
got off the settee on to the floor, and he tried the 
door again; of course it opened, and then he com- 
menced to talk to himself, and wondered what he 
had been drinking that would cause the door to 
act so. He never suspected Burdock until Bur- 
dock told the story the next day. Brown's only 
comment, when he heard it, was: ' I would rather 
catch a whole season for nothing than to attempt 
to get through a transom with a jag on, on a 
warm summer' s night ; a Turkish bath ain' t in it. ' " 



ED CRANE'S MEMOIRS OF " OLD HOSS" BROWN — 
THE OLD CATCHER'S LOVE FOR YARN-SPIN- 
NING — THE LONGEST HIT ON RECORD— SHAW'S 
FUNNY PERFORMANCE — ELMER FOSTER TAKES 
A FALL OUT OF JIM MUTKIE. 

"It was in 1884," writes Ed Crane, the big- 
pitcher of the New York team of 1888-89, who 
made the tour of the world with the Spalding 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 97 

party ' '(that was the year of the Union Associa- 
tion' s fight) that I first met big Lew Brown, the 
old Providence and Boston catcher, who died in 
Boston during the spring of '89, and he was 
one of the drollest ducks I ever ran against. 
At that time, 'Brownie,' or 'Old Hoss,' as 
we called him, Tom Bond, and Tim Mur- 
nane were the only old-timers among the crowd 
of kids who made up our team, and it was 
not long before we youngsters found in the 
'Old Hoss' quite a character. He was inclined 
to be stubby in stature, weighed about 250 
pounds, and was always on his dignity with the 
kids, and on the watch to impress us with a 
realization of his superior experience and ability 
as a player. 

"He never lost an opportunity of telling us 
about the time when he was 'on top' in his pro- 
fession. ' Why,' he used to say, ' these monkeys, 
with their gloves, masks, and pads, make me 
think there are no more dead-game catchers in 
the business. In 1883 I went out on the April 
trip with Boston, and caught Whitney when he 
was his fastest, without protection of any kind. 
The first time I did so away from home, I thought 
the crowd had gone crazy. 

"'They yelled "Murder!" and ladies fainted 
by the cart-load. They quieted down, however, 



98 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

when they saw that I knew my business, and 
then, after they had seen me eat that long-legged 
guy in the box through nine full innings, without 
a passed ball or a wild throw, they carried me 
off the grounds on their shoulders and extended 
me the freedom of the town, which I of course 
accepted.' 

"One day we were sitting around the club- 
house, talking of long hits, when ' Brownie ' joined 
our party. He listened a moment, and then broke 
in with: 'Long hits? Why, you ducks never 
saw a long hit in* your lives, I've seen lots of 
'em myself, but so far I'll bet anybody that my 
record has not been broken;' and then he told 
how Providence and Boston were playing in Bos- 
ton one day, and he had batted a ball which 
never stopped until it reached Providence. ' I 
hit it into the open door of a baggage-car on the 
Boston & Providence express train as it passed 
the grounds,' said ' Old Hoss,' as he saw us pre- 
paring to give him the laugh, and then he turned 
away to take a laugh at our expense. 

" ' Brownie' used to have a heap of trouble in 
getting money while away on a trip, as Murnane, 
who was our manager, knew him too well, and 
would never stake him to any great amount. 
One night, in Milwaukee, 'the Hoss' struck 
Tim for some cash, and Tim, I believe, offered 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 99 

him a silver dollar; 'Brownie' scornfully refused 
it, turned on his heel, and, walking over to where 
a group of us sat smoking, said, in the most in- 
dignant tones: ' I have stood this thing long 
enough, and I now propose to get even. I just 
asked Murnane for some money to get shaved 
with, and he refused to let me have it. Now, do 
you know what I'll do? Well, I won't get shaved 
again on the balance of the trip; I'll play ball 
with whiskers from this time out, and every time 
I go on the grounds I'll declare myself to the 
crowd — that's what I'll do.' He never carried 
out his threat, however, although he made a bluff 
at it by letting his beard grow for a week or more, 
until we guyed him so hard that he had to take 
it off. 

"One of the funniest things he ever said to 
me was said one day in St. Louis. I was catch- 
ing Bond, and Bond was 'signing' me with 
a smile. Well, the sun was in Bond's face, and 
he naturally squinted, so that I couldn't tell 
whether he was smiling or squinting, and conse- 
quently did a heap of guessing. After the game 
I told Bond I couldn't catch with that smile for a 
sign; upon which Bond turned to 'the Hoss' 
and said: 'What do you think of that, 'Brownie?' 
he can' t catch with the smile for a sign.' ' Brownie ' 
looked at me in disgust for an instant, and then 



LOO Stories of the Bas< "■/. 

said: 'Go learn the business, boy; go learn the 
business. Why, I used to catch that man with 
seven different smiles an inning, and each smile a 
sign for a different kind of a ball.' I threw up 
both hands. 

w k When we got Shaw, ' Brownie ' was the only 
man we had who could catch him. One day, in 
Washington, with Shaw pitching, 'Brownie' stop- 
ped not less than half a dozen foul tips with the 
pit of his stomach, and as he came into the 
bench I asked him if they didn't hurt. 'Naw; 
I didn't feel 'em,' was the reply. ' Why, kid, in 
'79 (that was his greatest year as a catcher), when 
a foul tip used to strike me in the stomach, I 
would Just pull in my breath and hold it? Some 
friends asked me, after the game, what made me 
fall off the bench while I was talking to Brown, 
and I told them the story. Shaw and 'Brownie,' as 
a battery, kept me laughing all season. ' Brownie ' 
called Shaw the 'crazy monkey,' and Shaw never 
lost an opportunity to kid 'Brownie.' I will never 
forget an incident that occurred one day on the 
home grounds. The 'Hoss,' his little, short legs 
going like the coupling-shaft on a locomotive, 
was chasing a foul fly, and just as he attained 
his full speed, Shaw called out to him, ' Run, 
pretty boy, run!' ' Brownie' stopped right where 
he was, and, folding his arms over his breast, 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 101 

looked tlie disgust he felt at Shaw's nn warrant- 
able familiarity, while the crowd doubled up 
with laughter, and the boys were unable to get 
their faces straight during the balance of the game. 
"' Brownie' was always afraid to room with 
Shaw, as Shaw, for a lark, would occasionally 
jump out of bed in the dead of night, utter a 
whoop like a fiend, glare about him like a mad- 
man, and then make a bluff at ' Brownie ' with an 
open penknife. On every such occasion the 
' Hoss ' would go down to the office in the morn- 
ing and have his room changed, with the remark 
that he was dead sure to wake up some morning 
with his throat cut from ear to ear by ' that crazy 
monkey. 



5 )? 






"We had another funny character with us, in 
the early part of the season, in Charley Reilly, 
the old catcher. He was, without doubt, the most 
diffident, and at the same time the most nervous, 
fellow I ever saw among ball-players. I have 
heard him order a glass of water at the dinner- 
table, and then, when one of the gang would say, 
suddenly, 'What's that, did you order water?' 
he would say no, and tell the waiter, when the 
latter came with the glass, that he hadn't ordered 
it. He was horribly broke up in a game in Phila- 
delphia, one day. He reached second all right, 



lOS Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

and tried to steal third, but, through nervousness 
or miscalculation, slid for the short-stop instead 
of the third-baseman, and was, of course, put out 
before he could get to his feet. The spectators 
howled, and the boys kidded poor Reilly until I 
thought he would faint before he reached the 
players' bench." 

TNT 

" Shaw was very funny, but one had to see his 
antics to enjoy the humor in them. I remember 
of his making every man on the Boston grounds 
laugh for five consecutive minutes, one day. Every 
time he played in Boston the crowd extended 
him a great reception when he came on the field. 
On the day in question he waited until every one 
of the team had taken their positions, and then 
he marched from the club-house and across the 
diamond to the box with the air of a Roman 
gladiator. The crowd gave him a great reception, 
and he stood in the box like a statue until the 
applause had subsided, and then he took off his 
cap, and, lo and behold, he had under it one of 
those little i Gussy ' hats, held in place by a 
rubber band which passed under his chin. He 
struck an attitude, and, lifting the little hat six 
inches above his head, let it snap back like a 
shot. Then he put on his cap, and got ready to 
pitch the game as though nothing had happened. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 103 

The crowd delayed the game by its howls of 
laughter— and the fine didn't go, either." 

' ' Jay Faatz soon won a reputation in his way by 
his amusing back-talk and methods of kicking. 
The funniest kick I ever saw him make was against 
old Billy McLean, in Toronto. Jay and Billy had 
had lots of trouble through the game, and finally 
Jay started in from first-base to question a deci- 
sion. Billy warned him, as he started, that if he 
came over to the home-plate he would get a 
thump on the neck; but Jay continued to ap- 
proach until within ten feet of the plate, and 
there he and Billy had it hot and heavy, until 
Billy finally told Faatz that if he didn't go back 
to the bag and shut up, he would fine him the limit. 

" 4 1 don't care,' said Faatz (both he and Billy 
were boiling over), ' if you fine me a million.' 

" Billy's face grew first red and then blue, and, 
looking at Faatz, he yelled: ' Well, d — n you, 
then I fine you a million!' 

" Faatz' s face relaxed, and he said, as he looked 
at Billy pityingly : ' Why, you kind old coon, don' t 
you know there isn't that much money in the 
world?' and then went back to the bag, while 
Billy mopped his brow with his bandana, smiled, 
and called, ' Play ball!'" 



104 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

" Elmer Foster was an eccentric cliap. He had 
followed the stage before playing ball, and could 
quote Shakespeare by the yard. He w 7 as South 
with Mutrie two years ago this spring, and came 
out of his hotel, one morning after breakfast, flat 
broke. As he looked around for some one to bor- 
row a dollar from, he caught sight of Mutrie on 
the corner, and, running toward Jim, threw himself 
on his knees before him and began the lines, 
4 Mother, am I humpbacked, deformed, an idiot,' 
etc., from Claude Melnotte, with as much earnest- 
ness as though he had been on the stage before a 
crowded house. 'Get up, for God's sake!' said 
Mutrie, ' people will think you've got a jag on,' 
and turned to walk away; but Foster held on to 
him and continued his impassioned lines until 
Jim slipped him a ten. 

" It is said that Foster was on his way home, 
about three o'clock one morning, when quite un- 
expectedly he ran against Mutrie. Jim looked 
sternly at Foster, and Foster looked just as sternly 
at Jim, finally remarking: 'Well, this is a fine 
time for the manager of the New York club to be 
starting home. Give an account of yourself. ' 

"Jim looked at Foster a moment, and then 
asked, ' Foster, where have you been?' 

" 'Out in society,' said Elmer, with a twirl of 
his cane. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 105 

" ' Well, it will cost you fifty,' snapped Mutrie. 

" ' Bet you fifty it don't go,' grinned Foster. 

" Mutrie pulled out his roll to take the bet, and 
swears that after he got home he found he 
had lost a hundred, and he knows he lost it 
when he met Foster." 



CLARKSON'S LOVE OF BILLIARDS — HE ACCEPTS A 
CHALLENGE ON A FALL RIVER LINE STEAMER 
— TOM BURNS' FIRST TASTE OF HOTEL LIFE — 
THE LAUGH WAS ON GOLDSMITH. 

"* Anson does not get half as much time to play 
billiards as he would like," said Tom Burns to a 
group of the boys in Mussey' s, one afternoon; ' ' but 
nevertheless he is about as clever as any amateur 
in the country. Before George Slosson left Chi- 
cago for New York, the old man used to play 
almost every evening, and when the team left on 
its Eastern trips he used to carry a couple of pet 
cues with him in a green baize bag, with which he 
practiced at every opportunity. All of the boys 
in the team played billiards a little, Clarkson and 
Kelly playing about even. These two frequently 
got together in a fifty-point game for a $5 note. 
Well, we boarded the Fall River line boat at New 
York, one night, for Boston, and, just as the 
steamer was pulling out, Kelly challenged Clark- 



106 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

son to a game of billiards, Kelly offering to give 
John twenty points in fifty. John was only too 
anxious to win five, and jumped at the chance. 
'If you'll let me use one of Anson's cues,' said 
he, Til play you, and play even up.' Kelly did 
not object to this, and off Clarkson posted for 
Anson' s state-room. He soon reappeared with the 
cues, and, going up to the captain in the main 
saloon, asked him wiiere the billiard-room was. 
The captain looked at John for a moment, and 
then said, without cracking a smile, ' We have 
taken the tables off this trip;' and John did not 
tumble to the situation until the gang gave him 
the laugh. He was awfully hot when he did 
tumble, for the reason that he had been trying for 
days to get the laugh on Sutcliffe, w r ho was from 
the country, and was therefore supposed to be 
a soft mark. 

"The same evening, how r ever, Kelly asked Sut- 
cliffe if he had been measured for a rubber suit. 

" 'No, what for?' asked Sut. 

" ' Well, how in thunder do you expect to play 
in rainy weather, then?' asked 'Kell.' 

" ' Sut' had not thought of that, and permitted 
the boys to measure him with a two-foot rule 
for a rubber coat, boots, and sou'wester, which, 
it is needless to say, have never been ordered."/ 

* * 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 107 

"I was pretty green myself, though, when I 
left my town to play ball, " admitted the third- 
baseman. " I remember my first experience at a 
first-class hotel. At home I had always been 
accustomed to having the different dishes set upon 
the table all at once. A course-dinner was an 
unknown institution to me. Well, I went into 
my first dinner with one of the other members of 
the team, and the waiter brought us each a dish 
of soup, a plate of bread, and some butter. I 
thought the variety was almighty slim for a first- 
class hotel, but I did not want to give myself 
away, and so made no comment. One plate of 
soup and bread, of course, didn't satisfy my 
hunger, and without waiting to see what my fel- 
low-player would do, I ordered more soup. The 
waiter brought it, and by the time the other boys 
had given their orders for dinner, I was so full of 
soup and bread that I couldn't eat anything else, 
although I wanted badly to tackle the host of 
good things that followed the porridge. This, 
however, never happened to me again, but I always 
recall it when I see a bill of fare headed ' Tomato 
soup.' " 

1 f The story reminds me of one on Dell Darling. 
At the Continental, in Philadelphia, one day, Dell 
had finished his dessert and coffee, and the waiter 
set before him a finger-bowl with a slice of lemon 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

in it. Dell looked at it an instant, and then 
informed the waiter that he had liad his soup. 

" I don't suppose, by the way, that there is a 
catcher in the business whose hands have suffered 
more than Frank Flint's. He hasn't a finger that 
has not been broken or twisted out of shape and 
badly swelled by foul tips. One day, at the 
United States Hotel in Boston, a new waiter took 
' Old Silver's' order, and, in hope of a tip, served 
' Old Hoss ' with many flourishes, finally setting 
a finger-bowl before him. 

" < What's this for?' asked ' Silver.' 
" 'Dat's a fingah-bowl, boss, fo' yo' fingahs.' 
" ' That so?' said ' Silver,' holding up his hands. 
'Well, I suppose it's all right; but I wish you'd 
bring me one that I can get my fingers into.' The 
coon's eyes were a sight when he saw 'Old 
Hoss's' hands, and then he gave a guffaw that 
made every guest in the dining-room turn in his 
chair, and which nearly cost him his job." 

" Goldsmith was very funny and bright, and 
quite a guyer. One season he had a fellow by 
the name of Ledwith playing third base for him. 
Led with was very ignorant. One day they com- 
menced to hit ' Goldy ' hard, and the way the 
balls flew over third base was a caution. ' Why 
don't you get a few of those?' said 'Goldy,' 



Stories of tlie Base Ball Field. 109 

angrily, as he turned to Ledwith. 'Am I got 
wings? ' snapped Ledwith; ' am I got wings? ' and 
the laugh was on ' G-oldy.' " 



HOW DAN O' LEAKY SECUEED A MEAL — AN INCI- 
DENT IN UMPIRE BILLY HOLBERT'S CAREER — 
JIMMY GALVIN'S UNCANNY ADVENTURE. 

The following paragraphs I have culled from 
the note-book of W. P. Pinkerton, the hustling cor- 
respondent of the Sporting Times, at Pittsburgh. 
I dropped into the Leader office one day last sum- 
mer, while in " Smoketown" with Anson's young 
men, and seeing some copy which "Pink" had 
prepared for the next day's issue, held dow r n upon 
his desk by a paper-weight, collared it. I helped 
"Pink" through an hour's search for the miss- 
ing MS., and, it is needless to say, failed to find 
it. Here it is: 

u Who is there that takes any interest in base 
ball that has not heard of Dan O'Leary? The 
most original character in the profession, generally 
in hard luck, occasionally otherwise, but, no dif- 
ference what his condition, he is always in the 
best of humor, and has a funny story to tell or a 
joke to crack, and oft times this genial spirit has 
stood him in good stead and helped him to pull 
out from what might have been a bad hole for 
him. 



110 Stories of (he Base Ball Field. 

* * A few years ago Dan had gone to California 
for the winter, but struck a financial snag, and 
started for the East again. He got to Denver, and 
there one day he found himself without a penny. 
It was bitter cold weather, the mercury dow r n a 
couple of inches below zero, and several feet of snow 
on the ground. Dan tried in every way to raise 
the wind, but without avail. He was beginning to 
feel pretty blue, as he had eaten nothing that day.' 
His overcoat had been sold to pay for supper and 
bed the night before. The clothes he wore were 
nearly ready to be called in, and looked very 
shady. 

"Dan had told his troubles that evening to the 
group in the hotel office, but they showed no dis- 
position to help him, although they were all 
abundantly able to do so. They had come to the 
conclusion that he was trying to work them, and 
was not as hard up as he claimed to be. Dan was 
in despair, when all at once an idea struck him, 
and he rushed from the room. A little later, the 
door opened and admitted Dan and a gust of air that 
caused every one to shiver and feel a sudden sym- 
pathy for all unfortunates. In his hand Dan 
carried a bag, and, as he drew near the group, he 
said: 'Gentlemen, I guess you all think I'm a 
fraud; I'm not, but let it go at that. I am dead 
broke, and have no show to get to my friends. 



Stories of tTte Base Ball Field. Ill 

I'm proud, though, and will not beg. I've tried 
hard all day to get work, but failed. My last cent 
went yesterday, and to-day I've had nothing to 
eat. Even now I'll not beg, and although I'll 
sleep out of doors to-night, I'll do it on a full 
stomach. I can eat anything, and there is just 
one favor I want. If some of you gentlemen will 
get me a little salt, I' 11 eat the cat and be content.' 
As he spoke the last words, Dan opened the bag 
he carried, and drew from it the dead body of a 
feline Thomas. It was frozen stiff and hard, and 
had a most unpalatable appearance. There was 
not a sign of a smile on Dan' s face, and his serious- 
ness brought down the crowd. The thought of 
the cat lunch was too much for them, and it was 
not many minutes until Dan was presented with 
funds enough to take him back home." 






The greatest story-telling rival to O' Leary was 
big Bill Holbert, the good-looking, good-natured 
catcher of the famous old Mets. Billy has not 
been living in clover of late, but he scraped 
together enough for himself and family to live on 
during the past year, through the games that the 
reorganized Mets. played on the co-operative 
plan. When that famous team was in the zenith 
of its glory, and its members were petted and 
feasted wherever they went, Holbert was one of 



L12 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

the star members, and Ms story of the game 
between the 'Muds' and the 'Snappers' was 
called for on all occasions. I heard him tell it 
for the first time to a group of admirers who sur- 
rounded him, on the pavement in front of the 
Central Hotel, one evening in 1884. 

w " I was taking a rest in a country town, a few 
weeks ago,' began Billy, 'and was loafing in the 
general store where the ' Rubens ' congregate to 
swap lies, and there heard them tell of the won- 
derful work done by their favorite players. 
After hearing yarns that grew larger as they 
went on, I could stand it no longer, and finally 
had to try and call them down; so I spoke up, 
saying, ' Why, I saw something that downed any- 
thing you fellows have told about/ 

' ' ' Tell us about it, ' they said in a regular chorus. 

" 'It was back in the sixties,' I began, ' and I 
was acting as an Umpire between the great ' Mud ' 
and ' Snapper ' clubs at Hickstown, on the Hog 
River, in Arkansas. It was the decisive game in 
the schedule of the league that was composed 
of the 'Muds,' 'Snappers,' and 'Soft-shells.' 
The game was a dandy, and the score was tied at 
2 to 2, with two men out in the ninth inning, and 
Tip McGrinnegan came to the plate.' 

" ' Go on,' said the Rubes; ' that was a dandy.' 

"'You bet,' I continued. 'Well, just then 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 113 

along came a nice out-curve, and Tip lit on it for 
all lie was worth. He swiped that ball so cussed 
hard that it was split into two pieces. One-half 
went over the fence and into the Hog River, and 
the other piece flew past Mike McGfee's head and 
went cavorting into left-field. ' 

" ' Oh G-osh, that was a corker, ' chorused the jays. 

" ' Right you are,' I answered; ' then Tip started 
to run, and was going around the diamond at full 
speed, when he tripped and fell at second base 
and broke his leg.' 

" 6 Too derned bad,' said my auditors. 

" 'That leg was broken square off, and Tip lay 
there until the boys ripped a plank from the 
bleachers and fixed it on him for a splint. Then 
he managed to get up, and continued on around 
past third and into home. It was just then that 
McGrinty found the half of the ball in left- 
field and threw it in, in time for Tip to be touched 
at the plate. What did I do? Nothing. I declared 
him not out, and allowed him half a run. The 
4 Snappers ' won the game by a score of 2 J to 2.' 

" ' How's that?' queried a jay. 

"'Why, they only got one-half the ball on 
him. Wasn't the other half a home-run? ' " 

" There are few lovers of the national game who 
do not remember Valentine, who umpired in both 

8 



114 Stories of tJie Base Ball Field. 

the league and association a few seasons ago. 
When he was officiating he was all right until a 
kick was made, and then he seemed to lose his 
nerve all at once and would go completely to 
pieces. Then his decisions would get ranker and 
ranker, and if the kicking was continued, a goodly 
dose of lines would generally be the wind-up. 
Off the diamond, however, there never was a bet- 
ter-hearted or more genial fellow than was 
'Vat,' and at such times was a great favorite 
with the players or any others who met him. One 
evening during the last season he was with the 
league, Valentine was seated in the office of the 
Central Hotel in Pittsburgh, surrounded by a little 
group of players and reporters. 'Val' had 
just had a particularly rough time of it in the 
game that day, and was loudly bewailing the 
unfortunate lot of an Umpire. Galvin, the vet- 
eran twirler, who was among the party, spoke up, 
saying: 

444 Take it easy, 'Val,' your good time's 
comin'. I know of an experiment that's being 
tried to make it easier for the Umpires; in fact, I 
saw it tried last week, but it was done so quietly 
that no one has ' caught on ' yet, for the originat- 
ors do not want anything said about it until it is 
ready to be made a part of the regular game.' 

u 0f course, everyone was all attention at once, 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 115 

and the scribes sharpened their pencils in expecta- 
tion of something new. Gralvin cleared his throat 
and began: 

" 'I was going along a country road out south of 
here, last week, when I came to a high stone wall. 
It seemed to encircle a vast area of ground, and I 
could not imagine what it was used for. Just 
then I noticed a little door, and determined to 
investigate. I knocked, and when it was opened 
an old man made his appearance. He had a long, 
white beard, and, strangest of all, was dressed in 
a flowing, white robe. 'What place is thisF I 
asked him. ' Celestial Park,' was the reply, 
'and the Chicago and Pittsburgh clubs are play- 
ing to-day. 5 I did not understand it, but deter- 
mined to see it through, although I didn't know 
of any games scheduled for that day. I attempted 
to draw out some change, but the old chap said it 
cost nothing, and told me to walk in. I passed 
through the gate, and a moment later was stretched 
out in a magnificent grand stand. It was of won- 
derful size, and, instead of seats, it was filled with 
fine, cushioned lounges, on which 4 you could 
stretch out at full length. Then the bleaching- 
boards were under roof, and had nice, cushioned 
seats. The audience was the strangest part of it 
all. They were all dressed like the old chap at 
the gate in the long, white robes, and nearly all of 



110 Varies of the Base Ball Field. 

them had big wings fastened to their shoulders. 
I decided that I had struck a masquerade party, 
and so thought I 5 d have all the fun I could. Then 
I commenced to watch the fellows out on the 
diamond. There, sure enough, was Anson, Burns, 
Williamson, Dunlop, Miller, and all the gang; and 
the funniest of it was, I was right there in the box, 
pitching as hard as I knew how. The other boys 
all had the wings, too; and you were doing duty, 
1 Val,' behind the plate. 'Anse ' was at the bat, and 
just then he touched me for a beautiful drive out 
into deep center. Gosh, if you'd only seen him fly! 
Those wings of his went so fast you couldn' t see 
them, and he was perched on third before the ball 
came back. Then ; Dunny ' went in to claim 4 Anse' 
hadn't touched second. When he got to you, 
'VaV he took off his hat and said: 'Please, 
Umpire, will you allow me to enter an objection? ' 
You gave permission, and then, while he was talk- 
ing, you gave him a swipe because he forgot to 

say ' Mister ' to you, and ' 

" Just then Galvin happened to look around, and 
found that while he had been so interested in tell- 
ing his yarn, every one in the party had stolen 
away. As the old man walked away with a look 
of disgust on his face, he muttered: ' Those fellows 
thought I was lying to them, but I was telling a 
dream I had, and it really is true that I had it.' " 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 117 

" PEEK-A-BOO " VEACH'S BUSINESS FAILURE— 
U PETE" BROWNING'S SUPERSTITIONS — A CLOSE 
CALL FOR THE MILWAUKEE TEAM AND MAN- 
AGER JIM HART. 

" Everybody who reads base-ball history, "saj^s 
Jim Hart, "has heard of 'Peek-a-Boo' Veach, 
who this season will cover first base for the Cleve- 
land league team. ' Peek ' used to be somewhat 
fond of a sup of the ' ould stuff,' a failing which, 
in times gone by, has caused him to make some 
failures in the base-ball arena: but I hardly think 
his business failure has ever been given the pub- 
lic, so I will give it as he gave it to me one night 
while sitting in the smoking-room of a sleeping- 
car: 

" ' Yes, Jim,' said he, ' I started a meat-market 
in Des Moines one winter. I had a partner — a 
corking good fellow, who could drink any ball- 
player I ever saw under the table. Well, we had 
a nice place, did a rushing business, sold for cash 
only, and had the best trade in the city. Our 
beef only cost us 6 cents per pound, and we sold 
it for 12 cents, and all other meats at. the same 
proportion of profit; and what is more, we always 
sold entirely out, so that there was no waste. 
How we came to fail I'm blessed if I could ever 
tell. Why, our failure was a wreck. Our liabili- 



118 Stories of the Base Ball Fielu. 

ties were 81,000, and our assets were just twenty- 
four dozen empty bottles.' " 

1 k That ball -players are superstitious, ' ' con- 
tinued Jim, "is a well-known fact, but I think 
the most aggravated case of the disease that ever 
came under my observation was that of ' Pete ' 
Browning, the ' Gladiator,' so long with the Louis- 
ville team. During the season of 1886, a gentle- 
man called me to the grand stand and asked: 

" ' Why does ' Pete ' always step on the third- 
base bag in coming in from and returning to his 
position in center -field? ' 

"I replied that I was not aware that he did. 

" 'Well, watch him,' said the gentleman, ' and 
when he misses doing it, buy yourself a silk hat 
and have the bill sent to me.' 

"I wanted a hat, so I watched Peter pretty 
closely, but, sure enough, he never passed in or 
out without stepping squarely on the third -base 
bag. Anybody who knows 'Pete' knows that 
to lead in batting is his hobby, and anything 
likely to improve his batting that can be suggest- 
ed catches him immediately. I finally asked him 
one day why he always touched the bag as he 
did. 

" ' Well, Manager,' said he, 'I'll tell you how 
it is. You know big Dan Brouthers? Well, he 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 119 

is the best batter in the league; so when we 
played the^)etroits, last spring, I thought I would 
watch him closely, and get on to some of his 
points. Well, I noticed that when he left first 
base (his position) to come to bat, he always put 
his gloves on the foul-line back of first-base. 
Well, I don't play first base, and I don't wear 
gloves, so I set myself to thinking what I could 
do to help my batting. I used to spend my time 
while in center-field trying to think of some good 
scheme. One day I was coming in from the field, 
and I happened to step on third-base bag. Well, 
I made a hit. I stepped on it again going out 
and coming in, and got another. I got four in 
that game, and I have continued to step on the 
bag ever since.' 

"Not long after this, Peter's health gave out to 
a certain degree, and his fielding fell off to such a 
degree that I was compelled to lay him off and 
send him to the springs to recuperate. Now, ' Pete ' 
is not at all modest as to his playing ability, and 
always claimed that the games the team won were 
due to him and his superior batting abilities. 
During the time he was laid off, the team made the 
most successful Eastern trip in its history, win- 
ning a majority of games on all grounds visited. 
' Pete ' got back from the springs the day we got 
home. The boys and myself were all feeling good 



120 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

over our successful trip, and 'Pete' was correspond- 
ingly depressed. Finally one of tlie boys remarked: 

" 'Say, ( Petie,' we can win even if you are not 
on the team/ 

w ' 8 Pete ' looked worried for an instant, and then 
drawled out: 'Umph, you needn't brag, for I was 
the cause of your good playing. We had a ball- 
ground at tie springs, and I touched the third- 
base bag every day? " 

" The fact that no base -ball team has ever been in 
a railway smash-up has often been commented 
upon. In the summer of 1887, 1 thought that the 
Milwaukee club would certainly break that record. 
I didn't have much time for thought, however, 
as the occurrence was like this: We were going 
from Kansas City to Omaha. The sleeping-car 
was so crowded that I was compelled to put two 
men in each lower berth and take an upper 
myself. In the dead of night, with the train at a 
stand-still, I heard a voice filled with horror 
shout: 

" 'For God's sake, start the train, quick!' and 
before the echo of these words had died away 
another voice shouted through the door of the car: 

u 'If you want to save your lives, get out of this 
car, and get out quick! 5 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 121 

' ' Mingled with this voice I heard two explosions. 
I thought it was a case of Jesse James, and as I 
had a considerable sum of money with me I began 
to reach for it. Following the voice in the door 
was one from one of the players who was occupy- 
ing the berth under me. 'My God,' it said, 
6 there is a train on top of us;' and no sooner 
were these words spoken than a crash of breaking 
glass was heard. These incidents were crowded 
into a space of probably thirty seconds, and by 
the time the last words of warning had been 
sounded not less than twenty people were stand- 
ing on a bank, fifteen feet from the track, dressed 
in all colors of under-clothing, and some of 
them with bare legs, while forty feet back of 
us (ours was the rear car of the train), on 
the same track, stood a big engine panting and 
blowing, and looking to us larger than the capi- 
tol at Washington. When we began to compare 
notes after finding that we were safe, we found 
there was a disabled train ahead of us on the same 
track, while behind us was the fast freight, and 
as we had stopped just around a curve, the engi- 
neer of the freight could not see our train. The 
explosions which I heard were torpedoes placed 
on the track, but owing to lack of time they were 
placed not more than fifty yards back of our train. 
The crashing of glass which so startled me was 



1*2*2 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

caused by the two players who had the berth 
under mine. They each took a header through 
the windows, and, strange as it may seem, escaped 
without injury. In my hurry to get out, I could 
not find the opening in the curtains, and as time 
was precious, I tore a slit in the curtain large 
enough to let me out, a feat which I could never 
have accomplished under any other circumstances. 
One of my players who had an upper berth had 
been presented by his admirers with a handsome 
gold watch, and of course his first thought was to 
save the watch. When he slid out of his upper 
berth with the time-piece in his hand, and minus 
all clothing except an undershirt, his partner 
was just crawling out of the lower in time to have 
the player with the watch in his hand take a seat 
on the back of his neck. There was no time to 
readjust, so out of the car they went in that posi- 
tion. You can imagine the picture. Two of my 
players were so frightened that they forgot how 
to get out of their berths, and consequently stayed 
there. Take it all in all, we came very near to 
missing a scheduled date, and, as it was, experi- 
enced all the questionable pleasure of a genuine 
collision." 

4 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 123 

HOW OJSTE OF ANSON'S YOUNG PITCHERS KEPT 
HIS AR3I IN PITCHING FORM — A SLEEPING- 
CAR ADVENTURE. 

Horace Fogei, of the Philadelphia Public 
Ledger, is authority for the following sleeping- 
car yarns, at the expense of Anson's new pitcher, 
Sullivan, and Mark Polhemus, formerly of the 
Hoosiers: 

"Last season," writes Fogel, " Washington had 
a pitcher named Sullivan — I think the same player 
who lately signed with Chicago. He was a very 
green but precocious youth, and had never been 
inside of a sleeping-car until after joining Wash- 
ington. The first trip the ' Senators ' made after 
Sullivan had joined them he was taken along. 
Being down to pitch next day, he was given a 
lower berth by Manager Irwin, so as to get a good 
night's rest After the porter had fixed up his 
berth, Sullivan went behind the ' curtains to 
undress. Soon after he emerged and called sev- 
eral of the boys to his berth. ' Say, what's that 
little hammock in there for? ' he queried. ' That,' 
replied Hank O'Day, 'is a pitchers berth; the 
man who has to pitch the following day always 
gets that berth. The car company provides that 
hammock for the pitcher to rest his arm in.' 
O'Day looked grave, and Sullivan took it for 



124 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

granted that the hammock was used for that pur- 
pose. After Sullivan had undressed, he discov- 
ered that the hammock was on his left side; so he 
emerged for the second time from behind the cur- 
tains, and, calling (J Day, said: ' This bed must be 
for a left-handed pitcher, as that hammock is on 
the wrong side for me.' CTDay showed him the 
difference by simply changing the pillows around. 
Sullivan then went to bed; and when, an hour 
later, the boys peeped in through the curtains, he 
was lying flat on his back, sleeping soundly, with 
his arm resting in the hammock-like clothing 
receptacle. In the morning they found him in the 
same position. Sullivan was very lame in his 
shoulder the next day, his position, with his arm 
hanging afoot higher than his body in that ham- 
mock all night, having been too much of a strain 
on him. 

u I am told by several Washington players that 
this story is 'true." 

"A funny incident occurred one night on a 
sleeper while I had charge of the Indianapolis club. 
I had just signed Polhemus, a youngster from the 
New England League, and, being a very fly young- 
ster, it did not take the i old gang ' long to get 
4 on to ' him. We were on our way from Indian- 
apolis to Philadelphia via the B. & 0. road, leav- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 125 

ing the former place on a Saturday night. Pol- 
hemus had never traveled over the B. & O. road, 
and the boys had him pretty well scared by tell- 
ing him what a dangerous road it was, especially 
coming over the Alleghany Mountains between 
Grafton and Parkersburg. Polhemus was warned 
not to go to bed until after we had crossed the 
mountains, as the road was so full of sharp curves 
that he would be in danger of being chucked 
out of his bed. It was Sunday night, about 10 
o'clock, when we neared the mountains, and 
' Polly ' being very sleepy, decided to go to bed 
and take the risk of being tumbled out. Well, 
he went to bed, and soon was fast asleep. He 
occupied an upper berth. Leitner, who was the 
most mischievous youth I ever saw, had been 
playing tricks on the rest of the boys all day 
long, and the idea struck him to give ' Polly ' a 
good scare. He loosened the straps which held 
the berth down, and then calling Seery to his 
assistance, the two pushed up the trap-like upper 
section. The lock-spring caught, and there was 
Polhemus locked in against the roof of the car. 
Then there was a racket in that section, ' Polly ' 
kicking as hard as he could, and yelling at the 
top of his voice for assistance. He thought the 
car was upset; that he was in a wreck, and felt 
himself hopelessly imprisoned, where he expected 



126 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

to be roasted alive as soon as the car caught fire, 
which he took for granted as an inevitable result. 
The boys kept him locked up for about a minute, 
and then turned the lever and lowered the section. 
Out jumped ' Polly,' pale as a sheet, and so ter- 
ribly frightened as to be w T holly bewildered. The 
lights from the gas-jets seemed to give him the 
impression that there was fire all around him, and 
he made a leap for the door. Fortunately, he ran 
in a direction where several of the boys were 
standing, and they stopped him. But for their 
interposition, I believe he would have run out and 
jumped from the train, which was going at the 
rate of about fifty miles an hour. It took i Polly ' 
several minutes to recover his senses, and it is 
needless to add that he was very angry when he 
discovered the trick. The funny part of that 
night' s ride was that Leitner, who perpetrated the 
joke, soon after went to bed, he also occupying 
an upper berth, and actually did roll out of bed, 
and hurt himself not a little. The train was 
moving very fast, and when going around one 
of those sharp curves which all ball-players 
know, Leitner was jerked out, and fell in a heap 
in the middle of the aisle. He occupied the berth 
next to me, and I was the first to discover the 
accident. I heard groans, and, poking my head 
out from behind the curtains, I discovered Leit- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 127 

ner sitting in the aisle with his arms clasped about 
his body and moaning to himself. I got up and 
assisted him to his feet, and, upon examination, 
found that he was considerably more frightened 
than injured. In the meantime the other boys 
awoke, and all had a good laugh at Leitner's 
expense, the man wiio laughed most heartily 
being Polhemus. ' ' 



HOW OJCTE BALL-GAME WAS LOST — ZIMMERMAN'S 
GREAT TRIPLE PLAY. 

" While manager of the Chattanooga, Tenn., 
club, in 1885," writes Billy Voltz, of the Philadel- 
phia Press, " my team stopped off at Macon, Ga., 
to play that club a postponed game. A victory 
for Chattanooga meant a change from fifth to 
fourth place, and a victory for Macon meant third 
place for them, as they were then tie for second. 
I put Ramsay, the celebrated pitcher, in the box, 
and owing to the illness of Siegel, my right-fielder, 
I was forced to put Bullas, who was Ramsay's 
regular catcher, in the field, and Cox, who was a 
worse fielder than Bullas, was obliged to catch 
Ramsay. Up to the beginning of the ninth 
inning, the score stood 3 to 2 in our favor. We 
were first at bat, and were retired without a run. 
Then the Macon men came to bat. Two hands 



128 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

were out and men were on second and third bases, 
when Peltz, one of the Macon players, rapped out 
a liner into right-field. Bullas was a miserable 
excuse for a fielder, and was slow in sighting the 
ball. Then, too, the sun was in the poor fellow's 
eyes. When he did sight the ball, he saw he was 
playing too far in, and started to run toward the 
right -field fence, which, by the way, is not as high 
as the average fence. As Bullas turned to catch 
the ball, it crashed through his fingers, hit him 
on top of his head, from which it bounded over 
the fence, and we lost the game by a score of 4 to 
3, Peltz stopping at second base. This can be 
vouched for by any of the contestants in that 
game and the spectators who witnessed it." 

Jack Bellman and Leve Shreve were discussing 
catchers and ball-players in general, on the Louis- 
ville grounds, one day last summer, when Billy 
Reccius told the following about Billy Zimmer- 
man, formerly right-fielder of the old Eclipse 
club: 

" Zimmerman," said he, " was one of the great- 
est fielders I ever saw. He played with the 
Eclipse club the year previous to its admission to 
the association. One day he saved the game for 
us by making a remarkable triple play. A low 
fly-ball was hit to right-field, and the bases were 
full. There were no outs, and the runners, think- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 129 

ing that the ball would fall safe, started around 
the circuit, Zimmerman caught the ball a few 
inches from the ground, and he was going so fast 
that he touched first base before he could stop. 
He then threw the ball to second, completing the 
finest play ever made on a ball-field." 



EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OF HENRY CHADWICK — 
BASE BALL IN THE '60S — A GAME OF ONE 
HUNDRED INNINGS — THE VETERAN'S ESTI- 
MATE OF " ROUNDERS." 

Says the veteran, Henry Chad wick: ' ' My earliest 
recollection of base ball dates back to the fall of 
1847 — over forty years ago — when I went with a 
party of young fellows to the Elysian Field, 
Hoboken, to play a scrub game of the base ball of 
those days. The regular field was occupied by 
the Knickerbockers that day, and we had our game 
on an adjoining open lot. I played short-stop, 
and we had lots of fun. Our side lost; I know, 
because I had to chip in to pay for the oyster sup- 
per we played for. I plugged two base-runners 
out who ran from home to first, hitting one in the 
back and the other on the leg before they got to 
the base. I got hit once on the neck, but the ball 
was not hard, and it did not hurt much. 

"In those days they played a game of base 



130 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

ball in the New England States which would 
occupy a couple of days in playing a match of 
over a hundred innings. Before that time, in the 
'308, they played town ball in Philadelphia, of 
which the old Olympic Club was the first club to 
play the game. But base ball per se was not estab- 
lished in Philadelphia until 1859 and I860. The 
first game of base ball I ever saw in Philadelphia 
was in I860, between the old Equity and Winona 
clubs. I remember their having bases one cubic 
foot square, like a cushion stool, and when a run- 
ner would reach a base he would take a seat on 
the bag. 

"The most enjoyable trip I ever took in report- 
ing base ball was that on which I went with the 
Nationals of Washington, July, 1867. That excur- 
sion did wonders in extending the popularity of 
base ball. I shall never forget our experience in 
Chicago that trip. The Nationals had had a walk- 
over with the clubs of Columbus, Cincinnati, 
Indianapolis, Louisville, and St. Louis, but they 
struck a snag when they met the Forest City nine 
at Dexter Park, Chicago, the pitching of Al 
Spalding bothering them considerably, and they 
met with their first and only defeat at the hands 
of the Forest City nine that time. They tried to 
get up a return game, but the Rockfords declined. 
They well knew that defeat would have followed. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 131 

The next day the Nationals met the Chicago 
champions, the Excelsiors, who were sanguine of 
taking the visitors into camp after their defeat by 
the Forest City nine. But this time the Nationals 
played their game, and defeated the Excelsiors 
by 49 to 4. You never saw a madder crowd than 
the Excelsiors and their betting friends were that 
night. They swore it was a put-up job, etc. 
Just look over the files of the Chicago Tribune of 
July 27, 28, and 29, 1867; you will find some 
interesting base-ball reading also in the Chicago 
Times and Republican of those dates, 

" The first book on base ball which I wrote was 
Beadle's Dime Book of 1860, which was pub- 
lished yearly for over twenty years. This was 
the first book on the game ever published. A 
comparison of that work with the League Guide 
of 1889 shows what wonderful changes have been 
made in the game within a quarter of a century. 
New York was the great center of base ball then, 
and yet in that city but little public interest was 
taken in the game compared to that of the present 
time. The Atlantic Club in 1861 played in but 
seven matches. 

"The pitcher in those days had to deliver the 
ball by a square pitch only. He was required 
to stand behind a line twelve feet in length and 
forty-five feet distant from the home base. He 



L33 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

could run eight or ten feet in the act of delivering 
the ball, and he had to pitch ball after ball until 
the batsman was suited. The Umpire sat in a 
chair with an umbrella over his head to protect 
him from the sun, and had an easy time of it. 

"I remember one time that Matty O'Brien of 
the Atlantas — their regular pitcher — acted as 
Umpire, and he became so interested in the con- 
test that, in a play in which the running home of 
a base-runner from third had to be decided, Matty 
called out 'judgment' and looked around for the 
Umpire, forgetting that he himself was the man." 

Concerning the English game of " rounders," 
unto which, in the past, Englishmen have likened 
base ball, Mr. Chadwick says: "My first experi- 
ence in playing 'rounders' occurred nearly sixty 
years ago, when I was an English school-boy. 
We used to each go out to a field back of the 
school, get three stones for bases, dig a hole 
in the ground for home base, and mark a line 
where the runner was to stop running round the 
bases after leaving third base. The 'feeder,' or 
pitcher, tried his best to toss the ball into the hole, 
and the batsman would do his best to knock the 
ball into the field. If he succeeded he ran to the 
bases, and if not caught out could only be put 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 133 

out by being hit by a thrown ball when off a base. 
This was all there was to the game. It was 
simply a game to occupy about an hour or two, 
and the fun consisted in hitting the runner. 
There was no skill required in pitching, batting, 
or fielding. For Englishmen to compare a boyish 
pastime like this to our manly national game of 
base ball, is the veriest nonsense. 

"Base ball is unquestionably an American game. 
In fact, I know it is, for I had much to do for sev- 
eral years in formulating its rules, and in evolv- 
ing the game, as now played, out of the old exer- 
cise game of thirty odd years ago. I was on the 
committee of rules of the old National Association 
in the ' 60s, and nearly all of the work of revis- 
ing the rules each year was left in my hands, 
even before I became chairman of the committee. 
When I took hold of the work of improving the 
old game, the ball was too large and too elastic; 
there was no penalty for wild pitching, and bats- 
men could hit at fair balls or not just as they 
chose; players never touched bases when they ran 
them; the bound catch was in vogue; the Umpire 
was irresponsible and his duties almost nominal; 
in fact, the game was merely for fun and exercise. 
I helped to make it the manliest game in vogue, 
and to make it a strictly American game, having 
no equal in the world for the purpose it serves as 



134 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

a Held game of ball, suitable for all ages and all 
classes. By and by, when English prejudice is 
removed and our Yankee game is given a fair 
show, it will go side by side with cricket in Eng- 
land. All I want for it is for Englishmen to give 
our game as fair a show as they have done the 
Canadian game of Lacrosse. But don't insult 
our game by calling it 'rounders.' " 

The most successful base ball year in the 
annals of the Harvard nine was that of 1870. It 
was in that year they met the New York Mutuals 
on the Boston Club grounds, and I append the 
score: 

HARVARD. 

r-Batting.-^ , Fielding. N 

o. R. IB. t.b. Assists. Fly catches. ^ 8 ™ Errors. To ^ t put 

Eustis,rf 1 6 6 1 1 

Wells, cf 15 5 6 2 2 

Perrin,lstb...5 2 3 3 1 10 10 

Bush, c 4 322 1 3 4 

Austin, s S....4 1 2 2 5 2 

Goodwin, p...2 2 2 2 2 

Reynolds, 3d b. 4 12 1 2 3 

White, 2db...4 12 2 2 1 2 3 

Thorpe, 1 f....2 446 1 2 2 

Totals...27 24 27 31 12 11 12 3 27 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 135 





MUTUAL 


1, 










r— Batting.— > 


r 




-Fielding. 




\ 


0. K. IB. T.B. 


Assists. 


Fly catches 


Outs on 
' bases. 


Errors. 


Total put 
outs. 


E. Mills, 1st b. 6 111 










-7 





7 


Eggler, cf....2 2 3 4 





3 










3 


Nelson, 3d b..2 2 4 5 


3 
















Patterson, If.. 5 111 





4 







2 


6 


Hatfield, ss...2 4 3 3 


4 


2 










2 


Martin, r f 5 1 1 1 





1 










1 


C. Mills, c 1 4 4 4 


2 


1 







5 


6 


Wolters, p....3 3 1 1 










1 





1 


Swandel,2db.l 4 2 2 










1 





1 



Totals...27 22 20 22 8 11 9 7 27 

Innings. 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 

Harvard 2 3 2 8 14 3 1—24 

Mutual 5 1 1 4 3 2 4 2—22 

Both the catchers are dead, and Nelson is the 
only professional name in service of the old 
Mutuals. 

A TRAGEDY OF THE DIAMOND— KEN MTJLFORD's 
STORY OF LOU HEENKE'S FATAL ACCIDENT 
ON THE FIELD AT ATLANTA — HOW A BRAVE 
FELLOW DIED. 

"To the ever-growing volumes of literature of 
the game, not a chapter has been contributed upon 
the life and trials of a manager," writes Ren Mul- 
ford, Jr., of the Cincinnati Times- Star. "Poor 
fellows, they are too modest to talk about it, 



136 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

for about their devoted heads all season long 
ring the cheers of admirers in the halcyon days 
of victory, and the jeers of caustic critics when 
the hours of defeat are darkest. For reverses they 
have one brief, eloquent excuse — 'hard luck;' 
and when Fate smiles her sweetest, during the era 
of success, there can be but one reason for the 
turn of the tide— ' great ball-playing.' Man- 
agers are like all the rest of mortals— they are 
born, not made. They have their ups and downs, 
just like the directors of elevators. When for- 
tune smiles they breathe easily, and when the 
fickle jade has turned her back they suffer in 
silence, for managers, like umpires, were fated to 
be abused. 

" It is 'on the road ' that the guardian angel of 
a ball club's destinies earns his salary. There 
never was a team on the face of the globe so 
bound by the scheduled rules and regulations 
that it did not need watching. The witching 
hour of midnight oft sees the distracted manager, 
with fire ' in his eye and watch in hand, pacing 
the gloomy corridor of a hotel, looking for the 
culprit pets of the diamond field, who have trans- 
gressed the laws laid down for their government. 
It is not all of management to sit with the boys 
upon the bench and scowl as misplays are made 
or smile when the swish of the bat and crack of 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 137 

the horse-hide keeps the score-board boy busy 
chalking up tallies that make victory certain. 
The joys of the life are all magnified — the dis- 
agreeable tasks hidden behind a curtain that is 
seldom raised to the multitude! 

u So much by way of introduction. It is not 
with the passive joys and sorrow r s of a manager, 
however, that this sketch will deal. Few have had 
the sad experience that bef el Gus H. Schmelz dur- 
ing the early years of his career as a guardian 
angel of tossers of the sphere. Not often has the 
shadow of death darkened the professional dia- 
mond. Despite the element of danger in this 
sport of sports, serious accidents on the field are 
of rare occurrence. It was decreed for one of 
Gus Schmelz' s 'boys' to die for his club. The 
sacrifice had never been made before. Let us 
hope the future holds no such tragic event. 
Atlanta was the scene of the sad affair. It was 
in 1885 and the ' Gate City ' boys were marching 
victoriously toward the pennant, the trophy of 
the Southern League race that they finally car- 
ried off in triumph. On that fatal afternoon they 
had in the Nashvilles opponents worthy of their 
best efforts. It required head work to win that 
game. Met at every point by the Tennesseeans, 
it verily seemed that the tide of success had been 
turned. Lou Heenke — a Cincinnati boy, by the 



138 Stories of the Base Ball Field, 

way— in the natural run of tilings took his turn 
at the bat, with one of his Atlanta confreres on 
third and one man out. One run might win that 
game, for nothing but blanks had been drawn, and 
Heenke played to get that man home. He 
blocked the ball safely. Down toward third it 
slowly rolled and Norman Baker, who was pitch- 
ing for the Nashvilles, quickly recovered it. By 
a feint he scared the runner back to third, and 
then threw wildly toward first. Charley — better 
known as ' Lefty' — Marr was at that base for 
Nashville, and he dove forward to stop the ball. 
He barely touched it, but it dropped on the line 
at his feet. Without the loss of a moment 
he stooped to recover it. Heenke was coming 
down the path as fast as his legs would well carry 
him. Marr was in his way and a collision was inev- 
itable. With the force of a catapult Marr's head 
was planted full in the breast of the runner. 
Heenke dropped like a shot, w T hile Marr was sent 
spinning head over heels into right field, where he 
lay half stunned. The run was in and Heenke 
with a groan crawled safely to first. 

" 'Can you play it out, Lou?' he was asked. 

" 'No,' was the brief but emphatic reply, and, 
wounded to the death, the big first-baseman left 
the field. His eyes rested upon it wistfully as he 
walked to a conveyance which was destined to 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 139 

take him to the hotel where the last scene of all 
was enacted. Suffering untold tortures, he never 
murmured. Few thought that collision meant 
death to one of Atlanta 1 s favorites. Arriving at 
the hostelry he walked up three flights of stairs to 
his room, away from God's bright sunshine, to 
face the great unknown. The whole story of his 
death has never been told. From the lips of one 
who held his hand while the 'Grim Reaper' 
stifled his breath and beaded his forehead with 
the dew of dissolution, I heard it. For hours he 
lingered in agony. One chum remained stead- 
fastly by his side, kindly repulsing friends who 
called and ministering to the dying player. That 
man was ' Hen ' Bittman. 

' ' 'No soldier ever faced death with less fear than 
Lou Heenke,' declared Bittman. ' Only once did 
I hear him complain. He lay there waiting for 
the end he knew was coming, and as his eyes 
roamed over the ceiling he groaned, ' Oh, God, 
how can you let me suffer so!' that was all. 
His first question, when the boys filed in after the 
game, was: 

" 'What was the score? ' 

" 'We beat 'em three to nothing,' came the 
reply, but the glamour of the victory was lost in 
counting the awful cost, for it was then known 
that before the sun set upon another day a 



140 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

ball-player's spirit would take its flight into 
eternity. 

" 'I wish you had struck out,' remarked Bitt- 
man. 

" 'What's the difference? I made a run by it,' 
was Heenke's cheery response. 

" ' Shall I telegraph to your wife? ' Bittman 
asked. 

"'Oh, no, she would only have to carry me 
home,' came the answer, with a meaning not to 
be misunderstood. 

" ' But hadn't I better write? ' 

1 ' Bittman was persistent and Heenke responded : 

" 'Yes, if you will.' 

" 'What shall I tell her? ' 

" 'You can say that I got hurt in a ball-game 
and died! ' 

"Here was nerve for you! Around the couch of 
the dying boy devotional services were held. Ball- 
players knelt while the Giver of all things good was 
petitioned to receive to Himself the youth whose 
life was fast ebbing away. These were trying- 
moments for Manager Schmelz. He was a sorroAv- 
ing participant in all these preparations for the 
inevitable. Heenke was conscious up to the last 
moment. 

" 'Good bye! Amen! ' were the last words he 
spoke, and as the rattle of death told that the 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 141 

end had come, Manager Gus Schmelz turned away 
faint and sick at heart. Lou Heenke sleeps his 
last sleep in a Cincinnati cemetery. 

' i On the heels of that tragedy there came another 
incident which bordered on a murder. A half- 
drunken fellow was abusing Heenke after his death, 
in the presence of several of his former confreres. 
Bittman resented the insults and avowed his 
intention to defend the name of the dead from 
slander. The Georgian was not to be subdued by 
mere words, and drawing a knife as long as a 
bayonet, he made a pass at Bittman' s jugular. 
The blow fell short and 'Jimmie' Green, who 
has since played in the Tri- State League, with one 
blow knocked the would-be knife-user down and 
then disarmed him. The rumpus created much 
excitement, for Atlanta was still grieving over 
Heenke's sad fate. It was not long before Manager 
Schmelz heard the story, and rushing to Bittman 
he said: 'Stay around the hotel to-night; we've 
had one man killed and we do not want to lose 
another!' These leaves from a manager's life are 
exceptional. Were they mere matters of course, 
there would be more gray-haired gentlemen in the 
profession than can now be counted." 



142 Stories of the Base Ball Field, 



CHAPTER V. 

THE BASE-BALL STRUCTURE lis' AMERICA — THE 
REVOLT OF THE PLAYERS AGAINST THE 
NATIONAL LEAGUE. 

The history of the growth and development of 
base ball has been so completely covered, its 
championship contests of past years recapitulated 
so ably, and the records of its great clubs and 
players given so fully, as to render chronological 
treatment in this volume unnecessary; yet there 
are certain periods and features of the game' s his- 
tory which the writer is inclined to touch upon 
briefly in this chapter. 

At no period of its existence has the game been 
brought before public notice so widely as during the 
past winter — 1889-90. The attempt of one hundred 
or more of the most prominent players in the coun- 
try to disrupt and cripple the two leading and 
the oldest organizations of the base-ball structure 
in America, by withdrawing in a body under the 
protection of the Brotherhood of Ball Players, 
has made the winter in question by far the most 
eventful period in the game's history. An 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 143 

erroneous impression of the causes which led to 
this upheaval in the base-ball world exists in many 
sections of our own country, and particularly in 

England and Australia, where the American game 
is just obtaining a foothold; and as the writer 
hopes that this little volume will be read not only 
throughout the United States, but in Great 
Britain and Australia as well, it has occurred to 
him that a brief and plainly-worded history of 
the- " break," and the schemes of its instigators, 
leading up to the revolt itself, may not only be of 
interest, but serve as well to correct mistaken im- 
pressions — many of which without question exist. 
At the time of the organization of the Brother- 
hood, the National League of Professional Ball 
Clubs had been in existence about eleven vears, 
and the American Association almost as long. 
When the National League was organized, base 
ball was comparatively in an embryotic condition. 
There was no such thing in existence as a well- 
organized association of professional clubs, with 
pre-arranged schedules, with clearly-defined play- 
ing rules, or with inter-state club laws and pro- 
tective measures against insubordination, intem- 
perance, and dishonest ball-playing. The game was 
at the mercy of gamblers and tricksters, and held 
a position in public estimation which certainly 
gave little promise of its subsequent development 



144 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

into the recognized national game of the Ameri- 
can people, backed financially and controlled by 
men of high social and business standing, and 
numbering among its enthusiastic patrons thou- 
sands of the best citizens in our great centers of 
population. To rescue the game from the slums 
and sand lots, to weed out the drunkards and 
" crooked" players, to build up the sport and 
place it upon a plane that would entitle it to 
public esteem and win for it popularity among 
the better classes, was indeed a Herculean 
task, when one considers its unenviable stand- 
ing back in the early '70s. It can readily 
be understood, also, that, under the circum- 
stances, the utmost rigor and the sternest dis- 
cipline practicable was necessary in the con- 
trol of players, who had never been subjected to 
even the mildest discipline, and who as a class 
were not sufficiently intelligent to understand the 
necessity for anything of the kind. Such rules, 
measures, and policy were consequently adopted, 
and when certain players, a year or two later, were 
accused and convicted of a plot to " throw" cer- 
tain championship games between league teams 
for the benefit of the gambling fraternity, they 
were permanently expelled from the ranks of the 
League, and their cases so summarily and sternly 
dealt with that the remaining players of the 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 145 

young organization were thoroughly convinced of 
the League' s intention to control its affairs with 
ungloved hands and stand no nonsense. 

As the National League grew in age, and the 
game began to assume cleaner and more promis- 
ing proportions, other necessary rules and regula- 
tions were suggested through each succeeding 
season, and they were promptly adopted and 
rigorously enforced. Each year, however, seemed 
to bring forth some new obstacle to the game's 
financial and professional success, and one of the 
greatest that in time developed was the grasping 
policy of both clubs and players. The National 
League club at Chicago, for instance, would employ 
and develop a young player until, by his excel- 
lent work in the field or at the bat, he attracted 
the attention of a rival club. The result was the 
refusal of the player to sign for another year with 
his old club, save at a substantial advance, equal 
to or above that offered by the rival club which 
desired his services. This, of course, was all right 
so long as the increase of salary asked for was 
kept within reasonable limits; but ere long clubs 
began, under pressure of competition, to assume 
salary lists which they must have known their 
prospective gate receipts did not warrant, and the 
result was financial embarrassments without num- 
ber, and the consequent threatened abandonment of 
IQ 



146 Stories of the Base Ball Field, 

base ball as a. business enterprise by those who 
had invested their dollars. 

It was this state of affairs which gave rise to 
the " Reserve Rule," operating first among the 
National League clubs alone, but since in vogue 
among all professional organizations throughout 
the country. In accordance with this rule each 
National League club agreed not to tamper with 
or offer money inducements to any one of five 
players whom the club employing them might 
name, thus virtually giving a club an option upon 
the services of the number of players named 
for the ensuing year. The number was gradually 
increased until in 1888 each club was privileged to 
reserve fourteen players, or five more than an 
entire team. With succeeding years came the 
national agreement, by which the National League 
and American Association agreed to respect cer- 
tain corporate rights relative to territory, players, 
and club government, and this protective measure 
increased its scope until to-day it embraces within 
its membership every existing professional base- 
ball organization in America (save the Players' 
League), so that no ball-player, under suspension 
from any cause, or refusing to carry out his con- 
tract with any club, may be employed by any 
other organization until he has been reinstated, 
or until he has fulfilled his original contract. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 147 

Then came the " sales system/ ' by which the 
Boston club, for instance, desiring the services of 
one of Chicago's best players, secured the right 
to negotiate with such player upon the payment 
of a money consideration to the club holding the 
player in reserve. The reserving club at all times, 
of course, had the privilege of refusing all offers, 
and likewise the player had the right to object to his 
transfer, unless the purchasing club agreed to his 
terms, or to refuse entirely, M for any reason he pre- 
ferred remaining where he was. For a time the 
reserve rule checked the salary evil, but the sales 
system opened the gates to clubs like Boston, New 
York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, with well -filled 
treasuries, to secure the star players of the 
country, one by one, until they possessed teams so 
strong as to impair the drawing power of their 
less fortunate competitors, who, in their. efforts 
to " keep up with the procession," were compelled 
to assume salary lists far beyond anything their 
financial strength and business judgment war- 
ranted. Finally, a salary limit rule was adopted 
by the League, but there were so many means of 
evading it — means which no wording of the rule 
could bar — that the measure quickly became a 
dead letter. Then, as a substitute, while Presi- 
dent Spalding was absent upon the tour of the 
world with the Chicago and All- American teams, 



148 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

the League framed and adopted the " Classifica- 
tion Rule," by which all league players were to be 
divided into four classes, according to their play- 
ing ability, their conduct and personal habits, 
with a salary limit for each class. 

This rule was a mistake — one of the few legisla- 
tive errors the National League has been guilty 
of. Its impracticability w r as soon demonstrated, 
of course, but not until it had won for itself the 
bitter opposition of the players, and until it had 
afforded them an excuse for their ultimate revolt 
against the League. Mutterings against the ' ' sales 
system," the " reserve rule," and the u classifica- 
tion rule," began to be heard during the fore part 
of the season of 1889, and the press of the coun- 
try discussed the relations of league players with 
their clubs, pro and con, for weeks. 

Meanwhile, John M. Ward, of the New York 
club, and his fellow- workers, had organized the 
Brotherhood of Ball Players, for the avow r ed 
purpose of advancing the interests of the national 
game, and of bringing about closer and more cor- 
dial relations between the players and their clubs. 
Shortly after its organization, this same Brother- 
hood desired certain modifications and changes 
made in the form of contract existing between the 
clubs and players, and a committee, of which Presi- 
dent John M. Ward was chairman, met the officers 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 149 

of the National League in New York, and the latter 
readily consented to such changes as made the 
contract in every way acceptable to the Brother- 
hood. After the adoption of the classification 
rule, however, during the summer of 1889, the 
Brotherhood apj)ointed a committee to wait upon 
the National League, and request the appoint- 
ment of a similar league committee for the 
immediate discussion of the classification rule, 
with a view to its nullification. 

The League promptly appointed a committee, 
which was to take under consideration the Broth- 
erhood' s request for an immediate joint meeting, 
and the committee, of which A. Gr. Spalding was 
chairman — John M. Ward being chairman of the 
brotherhood committee — decided that a legisla- 
tive meeting in the middle of the playing season 
would divert public interest and public attention 
from the pennant race, as wejl as disturb the 
work of the players themselves; and, in addition, 
that, as there were no questions at issue which 
could not be discussed after the close of the season 
as advantageously to both sides as at the time 
suggested by the Brotherhood, the committee 
would advise the postponement of the meeting 
asked for until the time of the annual meeting of 
the League in November. 

Upon receiving the League's ultimatum, Presi- 



150 Stories of the Base Ball Meld. 

dent Ward' s first step was to bind the members 
of the Brotherhood together by virtue of an oath, 
especially administered, in which all brotherhood 
players took a solemn pledge to stand by one 
another, and declared, " before Almighty God," 
that they would at no time in future be guilty of 
any act that would in any way injure or work 
detriment to any member of the order. Then the 
first active steps in the great revolt were deter- 
minedly taken by the brotherhood leaders. After 
the work had progressed sufficiently, the players 
were informed secretly, one team at a time, that 
the Brotherhood proposed to bring things to an 
issue with the League at the close of the season, 
and that, in case of the refusal of the League to 
make such concessions as the Brotherhood de- 
manded, the Brotherhood would immediately take 
steps toward the formation of a Players' League, 
to be conducted upon a co-operative basis. A 
contract, in which the signer agreed not to place 
his signature to a league contract for 1890 with- 
out the consent of the Brotherhood, was then 
presented to and signed by a large majority of 
the brotherhood members. When the plans of 
the organization were finally divulged in Septem- 
ber of 18b9, the brotherhood leaders had well 
nigh completed their plans for a Players' League, 
with clubs in the cities of Boston, Philadelphia, 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 151 

New York, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, and 
Chicago. 

When the players signed the brotherhood 
agreement not to sign a league contract for 1890, 
it was generally understood, as many of them 
afterward averred, to wit: Sunday, Clarkson, 
Ganzel, McKeon, Zimmer, Beckley, Glasscock, 
Denny, Thompson, Smith, and others equally 
well known, that the Brotherhood would not 
take steps toward the formation of a rival 
league, unless the National League refused to 
grant the concessions asked for. The unexpected 
exposure of the Brotherhood's plans, however, 
showed conclusively that the Brotherhood's inten- 
tions were in no way provisional; that Ward and 
his followers had fully determined to break away 
from the old body, concessions or no concessions; 
and at the annual meeting of the players' organ- 
ization in November this avowal was publicly 
made. The result was that a number of the more 
intelligent, independent, and prominent players 
washed their hands of the Brotherhood and told 
the organization plainly that they did not propose 
to be led by the nose in any such manner, among 
such being Clarkson, Welch, Ganzel, Miller, 
Tiernan, Beckley, Glasscock, Denny, Thompson, 
Boyle, Sunday, and others, all afterward 
signing contracts with the National League, and 



152 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

all of whom were expelled from the Brother- 
hood. 

During the months that have followed, the 
brotherhood leaders, with the rank and file of the 
oldest ball-players in the country well in hand, 
have gone ahead with the work of strengthening 
their organization, and completing their teams 
for the season of 1890; the League, meanwhile, 
accepting the situation and entering into the fight 
inaugurated by the players, with ample means 
and long years of experience to back it. The 
League' s first act w T as to annul the classification 
law at its November meeting. This law had been 
adopted simply as an experiment, and its repeal 
was assured, even though the Brotherhood had 
taken no steps against it, It was a mistake in 
legislation, but it harmed not a man among those 
who led the revolt against the National League, 
while it unquestionably opened the doors of 
league clubs to many players of the younger 
class. The law really looked toward the coming 
generation of ball-players, and gave promise of 
enabling the league clubs of six or eight years 
hence — by classifying, with graded salaries, all 
young players employed by the League — to go 
through a championship season with a salary list 
of from $25,000 to $35,000, where they are now 
carrying pay-rolls of from $35,000 to $50,000— a 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 153 

figure far in advance of what twelve of the sixteen 
leading clubs in the country can stand. The sal- 
aries of such players as Ward, O'Rourke, Ewing, 
Connor, Williamson, Ryan, Duffy, Keefe, Crane, 
Johnston, Radbourne, and others of the promi- 
nent players in the revolt, were in no way affected 
by the new law, yet it was they who raised the 
greatest outcry. After repealing the classifica- 
tion act and effecting other commendable changes, 
the League resorted to such other means as would 
enable it to recover from the blow aimed at its 
existence bv the Brotherhood, and the moves 
and counter-moves made by the two bodies— the 
Brotherhood and the National League — made the 
winter a never : to-be-forgotten one in the history 
of the national game. 

There can be no question but that the brother- 
hood leaders had fully determined upon cutting 
loose from the parent organization long before 
the request was made for a joint meeting of the 
league and brotherhood committees. No con- 
cessions the League might have granted, nor any 
steps it might have taken, would have prevented 
the break. Base ball, as an amusement enterprise, 
has become so prominent an institution during 
the past few years, that a thirst for fancied 
profits could not longer be resisted by the men 
who have engineered the brotherhood movement. 



154 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

The League's " oppression," the " odious sales 
system/' the ''unjust reserve law," and the 
"farcical classification law," have been harped 
upon as the casus belli by brotherhood leaders; 
but the milk in the brotherhood cocoanut has 
really been the desire of a dozen or perhaps a 
score of players to secure a controlling hand in 
affairs of the game, together with a slice of the 
profits therein; and the feature of the movement 
which puzzles the oldest heads in base-ball affairs 
is the action of the remaining eighty odd ball- 
players, in rallying to the support of this chosen 
few, under a form of contract which they would 
have repudiated without an instant' s hesitation, 
had it been offered by the National League. Many 
of these eighty players could, at any time during 
the winter of 1889-90, have signed two and three 
3^ear contracts with their old clubs, whose solv- 
ency and ability to j3ay is unquestioned; yet they 
stuck to contracts with the brotherhood organiza- 
tion, which especially stipulate that the salaries 
of the players shall be derived from the gate 
receipts and no other source. 

January 1, 1890, found the players' organization 
upon an apparently firm foundation; that is, the 
new league had obtained financial backing, and 
had established teams in Boston, New York, 
Brooklyn, and Philadelphia in the East, and in 



Stories of the iBase Ball Field. 155 

Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo in 
the West. Preparations for securing and equip- 
ping grounds for the approaching season were 
talked of, and the new organization declared its 
ability to hold all of the players it had under 
contract, as against any move the National 
League people might make toward the end of 
reclaiming the players or inducing them to 
desert the brotherhood banner. The League, in 
the belief that the reserve clause in its player's 
contract gave the organization a legal option upon 
the services of its men for 1890, resolved to put 
the point to legal test, and forthwith asked for 
a temporary injunction in the courts of New 
York, restraining John M. Ward, by virtue of 
his contract with the New York league club, from 
playing ball with any other organization. The 
court, however, while recognizing the validity of 
the reserve clause, refused to grant a temporary 
injunction, upon the ground that there was ample 
time in which to decide the case by regular trial 
before the playing season of 1890 began. This 
decision of the court did much to bolster up the 
brotherhood cause, and the press of the country 
for a fortnight afterward blossomed with the 
opinions and predictions of brotherhood enthu- 
siasts, in which the success of the players' organi- 
zation and the downfall of the National League 
was assured. 



156 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

The League, meanwhile, had been shorn of al- 
most every player it possessed. Every man, with 
a few exceptions, of the hundred or more who 
owed their success as ball-players to the success 
of the National League, repudiated his contract 
with the parent organization and rallied with his 
fellow-players beneath the brotherhood standard. 
Chicago was left with but three of its old players — 
Anson, Burns and Hutchinson. Boston, New York, 
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, Cleveland, 
and Indianapolis were swept clean as a ball-room 
floor, or, rather, were believed to have been for a 
period of six weeks after the expose of the broth- 
erhood conspiracy. Upon reflection, however, 
many of the players who had signed brotherhood 
agreements not to sign league contracts without 
the consent of the players' organization, saw 
through the subtle trick of the leaders in binding 
them by such an agreement, and flatly refused to 
abide by it. The result was that the following 
players returned to the league fold before March 1 : 

Boston — Clarkson (p.), Ganzell (c), Bennett (c), 
Smith (s. s.). 

New York — Murphy (c), Tiernan (r. 1), 
Welch (p.). 

Chicago — Anson (1st b.), Burns (3d b.), Hutch- 
inson (p.), Wilmot (1. f.). 

Cleveland — Grilks (c. I), McKeon (s. s.), Zim- 
mer (c.) 5 Beatin (p.). 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 157 

Indianapolis — Bassett (2db.), Boyle (p.), Buck- 
ley (a), Denny ^3d b.), Glasscock (s. s.), Russie 

(p.). 

Philadelphia— Anderson (p.), Clements (c), 
Decker (c), Delehanty (1. L), Day (p.), Grleason 
(p.), Myers (2d b.), Shriver (c), Thompson (r. 1). 

Pittsburgh — Beckley (1st b.), Miller (p.), Sow- 
ders (p.), Sunday (c. 1). 

Washington — Riddle (a). 

Thus the first day of March, 1890 (the time of 
going to press with this volume), finds the league 
teams reorganized, each with from three to six of 
its old players as a nucleus for teams made up of 
talent drawn from the flower of the younger or- 
ganizations of the country, such as the Western, 
International, and California Leagues, organiza- 
tions from which many of the old League's revolt- 
ing players originally sprung. It finds the Na- 
tional League strengthened by the admission, at 
the close of last season, of the Cincinnati and 
Brooklyn clubs entire — the two strongest teams 
of the American Association of 1890. It finds the 
National League circuit unbroken, with well- 
equipped ball parks in every city, with competent- 
generals and capable lieutenants, with a score of 
the best of its old players back in line, with a 
bursting treasury to furnish the sinews of war, if 
there is to be war, and with salary lists lighter by 
anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 than its clubs 



158 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

carried in 1889. It finds the National League deaf 
to all suggestions for peace by interested press cor- 
respondents, and determined to return to the re- 
volting players an eye for an eye and a tooth for 
a tooth. Verily it must (judging from the atti- 
tude assumed by the League), be war, unceasing 
and unrelenting, until one or the other, or both, 
of the contesting organizations go under. 

The Brotherhood, while apparently strong in 
the present support of its players, will have many 
redoubts to guard in the coming fight, and many 
heavy burdens to carry. In order to hold the 
players it has signed many of them under three- 
year contracts, and has agreed to figures with all 
of them that have swelled some of the salary 
lists to anywhere from $45,000 to $60,000. Some 
of the star players have been engaged under 
arrangements which promise them remuneration 
of from $4,000 to $7,500 for the first season. The 
expense of organization; the cost of retaining 
counsel, made necessary by the League' s moves 
in the courts; the outlay attendant upon secur- 
ing and equipping grounds in each city; of oper- 
ating and traveling expenses combined, will 
aggregate close upon three-quarters of a million 
dollars, which the Players' League will have to 
take in at the gate before it can pay its stock- 
holders one dollar in dividends. With three 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 159 

clubs playing ball in Philadelphia, five in Brook- 
lyn and New York, two in Chicago, two in Bos- 
ton, two in Pittsburgh, and two in Cleveland, the 
prospects of a paying season in the cities named, 
even for an organization with established grounds 
and the lightest salary lists practicable, are, to 
say the least, uninviting. 

In addition to^ these financial clouds, the broth- 
erhood league is handicapped by being without the 
pale of the national agreement, which prohibits 
any professional ball-club in good standing from 
playing exhibition, practice, state, or inter-state 
games with any club of any organization not a 
party to the national agreement. In other words, 
the brotherhood clubs are black-listed, and while 
national agreement organizations have been indulg- 
ing in exhibition and practice games, preparatory 
to opening the approaching season, the brother- 
hood clubs have been compelled to remain at 
home for want of clubs to play against. 

Still further, the Brotherhood, being a black- 
listed organization, is likely to suffer a raid upon 
its ranks at any time. No agreement exists 
between it and other professional organizations, 
by which the latter have in any way consented to 
recognize the former as being possessed of any 
rights to players or territory; consequently, any 
national agreement club that chooses can invade 



160 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

brotherhood territory and hold out financial or 
other inducements to brotherhood players. Under 
these disadvantages, and with unheard-of salary 
lists, in addition to the expense of organization 
and equipment, in the face of an assuredly 
divided patronage, the Brotherhood league, even 
though it receive the bulk of public patronage 
the first season — even though petty jealousies 
and internal dissensions do not arise among its 
players, as many have predicted, will have a by 
no means easy " row to hoe." 

Many brotherhood sympathizers have criticised 
the National League for its harsh policy toward 
its men, have likened the ball-player to a bond- 
man, and have applauded the leaders of the play- 
ers' revolt upon what some people have termed a 
' ' break away from serfdom. ' 5 The fact is beyond 
denial that Ward, Keefe, Connor, Richardson, 
Ewing, Gore, Whitney, Johnston, Kelly, Rad- 
bourne, Nash, Fogarty, Wood, Farrar, Buffinton, 
Irwin, Hanlon, Carroll, O'Brien, Faatz, Duffy, 
Van Haltren, Dwyer, Tener, Farrell, and each and 
every one of the remaining prominent players who 
joined the brotherhood movement, were beyond 
the reach of any unpleasant effect of the classifi- 
cation or reserve rules or of the sales system. 
They were drawing salaries ranging from $2,500 
to $5,000 for playing ball during seven months in 



Stories of tlie Base Ball Field. 161 

the year. Not a man of them sustained unpleas- 
ant relations with his club, so far as the public 
knows, not brought about by his own actions. I 
can cite no instance in which any body of men 
have been treated with more consideration, or 
have been better paid for their services than have 
the players who have led and aided the revolt 
against the National League. The excuse of hard- 
ship and oppressive treatment therefore falls flat. 
The excuse of insufficient pay, for obvious rea- 
sons, has never been offered. The National League 
has made some mistakes, it is true; but instances 
are rare in which great organizations, confronted 
by such difficulties as the National League has 
overcome, have done better. The National League 
has made the game of base ball all that it is to- 
day; it was a National League president and Na- 
tional League teams who introduced and popular- 
ized the game in England and Australia. The 
National League has invariably taken the ' ' strides 
that tell" in the advance and progress Qf the 
sport and the improvement of its plaj r ers as a 
class, and it seems unlikely now that the Nation- 
al League will be dismayed, even by so deadly a 
blow at its existence as the Brotherhood has 
aimed. 

"Why fight us?" is a question the Brother- 
hood has asked repeatedly. " There is room for 
11 



162 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

two organizations, and we are only exercising our 
right and privilege to go into business for our- 
selves. Admit us to the protection of the na- 
tional agreement, and let the best organization 



win." 



Naturally the League is averse to entertaining 
such a proposition. The Brotherhood did its 
utmost to wipe the older organization out of 
existence at one bold stroke, and to tell the truth 
the National League was, for a time, stunned by 
the blow dealt it.. 

It has gotten upon its feet within the allotted 
time, however, and it does not propose at this 
stage to " double up" with its antagonist and 
form part of the latter' s combination. On the 
contrary, it will continue the fight and employ all 
the skill, strategy, tactics, and means of which it 
is master. 

President Ward of the Brotherhood is a bold 
and cunning operator. He has aimed a more 
deadly blow at the existing base-ball structure in 
America than has ever before been delivered, for 
the reason that, by virtue of his unquestionably 
shrewd plays, he has bound the players to his 
cause in a manner that has rarely been equalled 
in any past instance of the kind. First by the 
oath of allegiance to the Brotherhood, and then by 
the written promise of the men not to sign a league 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 163 

contract without the consent of the Brotherhood, 
he wove the meshes so tightly about the flower of 
American playing talent as to hold it securely 
against all assaults. Whether or not he will con- 
tinue to do so remains to be seen. In establishing 
the Players' League the Brotherhood has under- 
taken a most difficult enterprise, which only the 
events of the future can stamp as a success. The 
difficulties of organization seem at this date to 
have been passed, but the true tests of the Broth- 
erhood' s strength and staying powers are still to 
come. 



164 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE GAME IN OTHER COUNTRIES. 

Notwithstanding the disparaging remarks of 
Englishmen as to the game of base ball during 
the tour of Great Britain by the Chicago and All- 
American teams, and despite the fact that Aus- 
tralia and New Zealand are a long way from the 
United States, I have no hesitancy in expressing 
the belief that the national game of America 
will rapidly become the popular field sport of all 
three of these countries. 

One can readily understand the attitude of 
Englishmen toward the game at the time the 
Spalding tourists visited them. Naturally skep- 
tical of all things not English, the residents of 
Great Britain who attended the exhibition games 
of the visiting teams, did so prepared to criticise 
rather than to enjoy. Further than this, the 
games where wholly lacking in anything calcu- 
lated to arouse local interest or enthusiasm, and 
still further, the spectators were in a great meas- 
ure ignorant, if not wholly so, irpon all points of 
play that make the game so exciting a sport for 
Americans. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 165 

I, myself, have realized how perfectly stupid 
is a ball game to one ignorant of its rules or the- 
ory. Fonder of foot -ball than of any other field 
sport during my school-boy days, I attained my 
majority without taking more than a passing 
interest in the national game, and when I one 
day sat in the grand stand of the old Chicago 
grounds on the lake front, in 1881, and witnessed 
my first league game, I felt very much as I imag- 
ine the Englishmen felt when they sat through 
the games at Kenington Oval, Lords, the Crystal 
Palace, and other grounds upon which we played 
during the winter of 1888-89. Of course they 
voted it stupid. They had never seen an amateur 
game by which to gauge the degree of skill 
attained by league players, and they had so 
little conception of those points of play which 
raise an American crowd off its feet, that, save 
for the presence of a few Yankees among them, 
the day the boys played before the Prince of 
Wales, at Kenington, not a murmur of applause 
would have marked the really clever bits of 
batting, fielding, and base-running that charac- 
terized the game despite the wretched conditions 
under which we played — the weather being abom- 
inable. 

While the Englishmen were sarcastically criti- 
cal, however, they showed the interest they felt 



166 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

in our games by turning out by thousands to wit- 
ness the exhibitions, and in the face of such 
weather, too, as no party of enthusiasts in Amer- 
ica could have been induced to breast, no matter 
what the attraction. 

Australia is conceded to be a great sport-loving 
country, and, in proportion to its population, it is 
with little question the greatest in the world; yet 
not even in Australia was so great a degree of in- 
terest shown in the visit of the American teams 
as that which marked their tour of England. In 
Australia the weather was charmingly favorable 
to the game throughout our entire stay, while in 
England the reverse was the case, the teams fre- 
quently playing with the mud and water ankle- 
deep in the out-field, while a driving rain and a 
cold wind wet and chilled them to the marrow. 
Yet the crowds were so great as to require ad- 
ditional assistance at the gates, and the people in- 
variably grumbled and showed their dissatisfac- 
tion when the boys were compelled to cut short 
the game at the close of the third or fifth innings. 
Time and again I thought, as I saw thousands of 
Englishmen standing forty and fifty deep about 
the field, wrapped in their mackintoshes, and 
with water splashing in their upturned faces, 
" Yerily, I have never seen such out-and-out lovers 
of sport anywhere in the world." 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 167 

Base ball will take in England, for the reason 
that there is not to-day, and has never been, a sport 
there that can present such attractive points to 
the masses as are found in the American game. 
Cricket will doubtless ever remain the favored 
sport of the wealthier classes who have the means 
and the time to devote to it; but among the mid- 
dle and working classes, so vastly in the majority 
in Great Britain, base ball is bound to become a 
national favorite. This class of people in Eng- 
land have not the time to devote to a three-days 
cricket contest, any more than have the same 
classes in America, and the two-hours cut-and- 
run, up-and-at-him game of the Yankees is just 
the sort of a field sport the working classes in 
England will enjoy, and which they can obtain 
the time to patronize. 

The English city which is without cricket and 
foot-ball grounds is an exception. Those that our 
party visited were splendidly equipped and con- 
veniently located, so that, were the teams in Eng- 
land, there would to-day be no obstacle to intro- 
ducing the game at a rate of speed that would 
very soon put it upon the firmest possible founda- 
tions. In this respect, the visit of the Americans 
in 1889 has already.borne excellent fruit. Gentle- 
men prominently interested in both cricket and 
foot-ball in London have determined to make the 



168 Stories of the Base Ball Meld. 

American game a go if possible, and much has 
already been done in that direction. The National 
Base Ball League of Great Britain, with John M. 
Betts, of the Essex County grounds, as Honorable 
Secretary, has been organized, and foot-ballers in 
particular are beginning to play the game with a 
reasonable degree of success. Of course it will take 
more than a single season's practiqe, however, for 
the cleverest of them to attain any especial degree 
of proficiency, but the injection of a little Ameri- 
can talent into each of the English teams— which 
has already been undertaken — will do much 
toward helping our English cousins in mastering 
the art of pitching, catching, throwing, batting, 
fielding, and running bases. Within two or 
three years' time — provided the same progress 
that has marked the past twelve months shall 
continue — Americans can safely anticipate seeing 
their national game an acknowledged fixture 
upon English soil. 

As to Australia and New Zealand, both are admir- 
ably adapted, in the matters of climate, grounds, 
and the temperaments of the people, for the suc- 
cessful introduction of the game, and the rapid 
progress it has made throughout New South 
Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and New Zea- 
land, since the visit of the American teams to 
those countries, leaves little if any room for doubt 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 169 

but that base ball has been planted there to stay 
and win a place in colonial hearts second only to 
that it now holds in the heart of every sport-loving 
American. 

With little question, both England and Aus- 
tralia will very shortly prove an excellent market 
for American base-ball talent, and the capable, 
ambitious young players who are first in the field, 
not forgetting to take with them an ample stock 
of good resolves as to personal habits and deport- 
ment, will be very apt to be the biggest gainers 
of the Spalding tour. 

Strangely enough, the Cubans and Hawaiians 
have developed a strong fancy for base ball, and 
if the American game can gain a foothold in such 
climes and among people of such temperaments, 
it is certainly safe to predict that the time is not 
far distant when the crack of the base-ball bat 
may, like the beat of the English drum, be heard 
around the world. 



170 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 



CHAPTER VII. 

NATIONAL PLAYING RULES OF PROFESSIONAL 
BASE-BALL CLUBS, AS ADOPTED JOINTLY BY 
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE AND AMERICAN ASSO- 
CIATION, AND GOVERNING ALL CLUBS PARTIES 
TO THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT. 

[From tlie Spalding League Guide of 1890.] 



THE BALL GROUND. 

Rule 1. The ground must be an inclosed field, sufficient in 
size to enable each player to play in his position as required by 
these rules. 

Rule 2. The infield must be a space of ground thirty yards 
square. 

the bases. 

Rule 3. The bases must be— 

Sec. 1. Four in number, and designated as first base, second 
base, third base, and home base. 

Sec. 2. The home base must be of whitened rubber, twelve 
inches square, so fixed in the ground as to be even with the sur- 
face, and so placed in the corner of the infield that two of its sides 
will form part of the boundaries of said infield. 

Sec. 3. The first, second, and third bases must be canvas 
bags, fifteen inches square, painted white, and filled with some 
soft material, and so placed that the center of the second base 
shall be upon its corner of the infield; and the center of the first 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. Ill 

and third bases shall be on the lines running to and from second 
base, and 7i inches from the foul lines. Providing, that each base 
shall be entirely within the foul lines. 

Sec. 4. All the bases must be securely fastened in their posi- 
tions, and so placed as to be distinctly seen by the Umpire. 

THE FOUL LINES. 

Rule 4. The foul lines must be drawn in straight lines 
from the outer corner of the home base, along the outer edge of 
the first and third bases, to the boundaries of the ground. 

THE POSITION LINES. 

Rule 5. The pitcher's lines must be straight lines, forming 
the boundaries of a space of ground, in the infield, 5i-feet long 
by four feet wide, distant fifty feet from the center of the 
home base, and so placed that the 5i-feet lines would each be 
two feet distant from and parallel with a straight line passing 
through the center of the home and second bases. Each corner 
of this space must be marked by a flat, round, rubber plate, six 
inches in diameter, fixed in the ground even with the surface. 

Rule 6. The catcher's lines must be drawn from the outer 
corner of the home base, in continuation of the foul lines, 
straight to the limits of the ground back of home base. 

Rule 7. The Captain's or coacher's line must be a line 
fifteen feet from and parallel with the foul lines, said lines com- 
mencing at a line parallel with and seventy-five feet distant from 
the catcher's lines, and running thence to the limits of the 
grounds. 

Rule 8. The players' lines must be drawn from the catcher's 
lines to the limits of the ground, fifty feet distant from, and 
parallel with, the foul lines. 

Rule 9. The batsman's lines must be straight lines, forming 
the boundaries of a space on the right, and of" a similar space on 
the left of the home base six feet long by four feet wide, extend- 
ing three feet in front of and three feet behind the center of the 



172 Stories of the Base Ball Field, 

home base, and with its nearest line distant six inches from the 
home base. 

Rule 10. The three-feet lines must be drawn as follows: 
From a point on the foul line from home base to first base, 
and equally distant from such bases, shall be drawn a line on foul 
ground, at a right angle to said foul line, and to a point three 
feet distant from it; thence running parallel with said foul line 
to a point three feet distant from the first base; thence in a 
straight line to the foul line, and thence upon the foul line to 
point of beginning. 

Rule 11. The lines designated in Rules 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 
10 must be marked with chalk or other suitable, material, so as to 
be distinctly seen by the Umpire. They must -all be so marked 
their entire length, except the Captain's and players' lines, which 
must be so marked for a distance of at least thirty-five yards from 
the catcher's lines. 

THE BALL. 

Rule 12. The ball— * 

Sec. 1. Must not weigh less than five nor more than 5£ ounces 
avoirdupois, and measure not less than nine nor more than 9J- 
inches in circumference. The Spalding League Ball or the 
Reach American Association Ball must be used in all games 
played under these rules. 

Sec. 2. For each championship game two balls shall be fur- 
nished by the home club to the Umpire for use. When the ball 
in play is batted over the fence or stands onto foul ground out 
of sight of the players, the other ball shall be immediately put 
into play by the Umpire. As often as one of the two in use shall 
be lost, a new one must be substituted, so that the Umpire may, 
at all times, after the game begins, have two for use. The moment 

* The Spalding League Ball has been officially adopted by the National 
League for the past eleven years, and used exclusively in all championship 
games. It has also been adopted by the National League of Great Britain, 
and the leading associations of Australia, New Zealand, Sandwich Islands, 
Japan, Cuba, and Canada, making it the standard ball of the world. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 173 

the Umpire delivers a new or alternate ball to the pitcher it comes 
into play, and shall not be exchanged until it, in turn, passes 
out of sight onto foul ground. At no time shall the ball be inten- 
tionally discolored by rubbing it with the soil or otherwise. 

Sec. 3. In all games the ball or balls played with shall be 
furnished by the home club, and the last ball in play becomes 
the property of the winning club. Each ball to be used in cham- 
pionship games shall be examined; measured, and weighed by the 
Secretary of the Association, inclosed in a paper box and sealed 
with the seal of the Secretary, which seal shall not be broken, 
except by the Umpire, in the presence of the Captains of the 
two contesting nines, after play has been called. 

Sec. 4. Should the bail become out of shape, or cut or ripped 
so as to expose the yarn, or in any way so injured as to be — in the 
opinion of the Umpire — unfit for fair use, the Umpire, on being- 
appealed to by either Captain, shall at once put the alternate ball 
into play and call for a new one. 

THE BAT. 

Rule 13. The bat— 

Sec 1. Must be made wholly of wood, except that the handle 
may be wound with twine, or a granulated substance applied, 
not to exceed eighteen inches from the end. 

Sec 2. It must be round, except that a portion of the surface 
may be flat on one side, but it must not exceed 21 inches in diam- 
eter in the thickest part, and must not exceed forty-two inches in 
length. 

In batting against the swift pitching of the 
period, a tough, light bat is the best; and it should 
be handled quickly in striking at the ball, giving 
the wrists ample play, and not hit from the 
shoulder. A comparatively light, quick stroke 
of the bat meeting a swiftly thrown ball, will fre- 
quently send it out of reach of the out-iielders ? 



174 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

while a safe tap of the ball will send it clear of 
the in-fielders, and prevent a catch in the out-field, 
unless the latter are playing very close in. 

THE PLAYERS AND THEIR POSITIONS. 

Rule 14. The players of each club in a game shall be nine in 
number, one of whom shall act as Captain; and in no case shall 
less than nine men be allowed to play on each side. 

Rule 15. The players' positions shall be such as may be 
assigned them by their Captain, except that the pitcher must take 
his position within the pitcher's lines, as defined in Rule 5, 
When in position on the field, all players will be designated 
" Fielders" in these rules. •; 

The field side is not complete without nine men 
in the field. The Captain can place his men as he 
likes, even to the extent of playing one of the out- 
fielders as right short; but the ball can only be 
thrown to the bat from the pitcher's regular 
position. 

Rule 16. Players in uniform shall not be permitted to seat 
themselves among the spectators. 

Rule 17. Every club shall be required to adopt uniforms for 
its players; and each player shall be required to present himself 
upon the field during said game in a neat and cleanly condition; 
but no player shall attach anything to the sole or heel of his shoes 
other than the ordinary tease-ball shoe-plate. 

THE PITCHER'S POSITION. 

Rule 18. The pitcher shall take his position, facing the bats- 
man, with both feet square on the ground, one foot on the rear 
line of the "box." He shall not raise either foot, unless in the 
act of delivering the ball, nor make more than one step in such 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 175 

delivery. He shall hold the ball, before the delivery, fairly in 
front of his body, and in sight of the Umpire. When the pitcher 
feigns to throw the ball to a base, he must resume the above posi- 
tion, and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat. 

The pitcher must bear in mind the fact that if 
he lifts his rear foot from off the back line of his 
position before he delivers the ball, or before it 
leaves his hand, he violates the rule, as in such 
case he takes two steps in delivery, whereas the 
rule confines him to but one step. It is immate- 
rial whether he lifts his rear foot or not after the 
ball leaves his hand. In every instance of his 
making a feint to throw to first base, he must 
afterward make a pause, and take his original 
standing position before he throws the ball to the 
bat. 

THE BATSMEN'S POSITION — ORDER OP BATTING. 

Rule 19. The batsmen must take their positions within the 
batsmen's lines, as denned in Rule 9, in the order in which they 
are named on the score, which must contain the batting order of 
both nines, and be submitted by the Captains of the opposing 
teams to the Umpire before the game; and when approved by 
him, this score must be followed, except in the case of a substi- 
tute player, in which case the substitute must take the place of the 
original player in the batting order. After the first inning, the 
first striker in each inning shall be the batsman whose name fol- 
lows that of the last man who has completed his turn — time at 
bat — in the preceding inning. 

The " score" referred to in the rule is the 
printed or written order of batting handed to the 
Umpire by the Captain when the game is about 



176 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

to begin, and it can not afterward be changed in 
its order except in the case of a substitute player 
taking his place in the nine, in which case he bats 
in the same order as that of the retired player. 

Rule 20. Sec. 1, When their side goes to the bat the players 
must immediately return to and seat themselves upon the players' 
"bench, and remain there until the side is put out, except when 
batsman or base-runner. All bats not in use must be kept in the 
bat racks, and the two players next succeeding the batsman, in the 
order in which they are named on the score, must be ready with 
bat in hand to promptly take position as batsman. Provided, that 
the Captain and one assistant only may occupy the space between 
the players' lines and the Captain's lines to coach base-runners, 

No player has a right to leave the players' 
bench, except when called to the bat. Neither 
have they the right to put their bats on the ground 
when not using them in their position at the bat. 
In the case of the Captain and his coaching assist- 
ant only, can any player leave the bench when ' 
not at the bat. Umpires should see that this rule 
is strictly enforced. 

Sec. 2. No player of the side at bat, except when batsman, 
shall occupy any portion of the space within the catcher's lines, 
as defined in Rule 6. The triangular space behind the home 
base is reserved for the exclusive use of the Umpire, catcher, and 
batsman, and the Umpire must prohibit any player of the side M at 
bat " from crossing the same at any time while the ball is in the 
hands of, or passing between, the pitcher and catcher, while stand- 
ing in their positions. 

Sec. 3. The players of the side "at bat " must occupy the por- 
tion of the field allotted them, but must speedily vacate any por- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 177 

tiou thereof that may be in the way of the ball, or of any fielder 
attempting to catch or field it. 

players' benches. 

Rule 21. The players' benches must be furnished by the 
home club, and placed upon a portion of the ground outside the 
players' lines. They must be twelve feet in length, and must be 
immovably fastened to the ground. At the end of each bench 
must be immovably fixed a bat rack, with fixtures for holding 
twenty bats; one such rack must be designated for the exclusive 
use of the visiting club, and the other for the exclusive use of the 
home club. 

THE GAME, 

Rule 22. Sec. 1. Every championship game must be com- 
menced not later than two hoars before sunset. 

Sec. 2. A game shall consist of nine innings to each contesting 
nine, except that — 

(a) If the side first at bat scores less runs in nine innings than 
the other side has scored in eight innings, the game shall then 
terminate. 

(b) If the side last at bat in the ninth inning scores the win- 
ning run before the third man is out, the game shall terminate. 

During the closing months of the season the 
Umpire should keep himself well posted as to the 
almanac time for sunset on the day of the month, 
so as to be ready to call play at least two hours 
before the official time for sunset. The moment 
the winning run in a game is made, that moment 
the contest ends, and the Umpire must call game. 
For instance, if there be no man out, and a runner 
on third* base, and the score a tie, and a home hit 
is made, the moment the home base is touched by 

12 



St the Base Ball Field. 

the runner from third the game ends, and only a 
single run can be credited to the batsmen. 

A TIE GAME. 

Rule 23. If the score be a tie at the end of nine innings to 
each side, play sh.aU only be continued until the side first at bat 
shall have scored one or more runs than the other side, in an 
equal number of innings, or until the other side shall score one or 
more runs than the side first at bat. 

A DRAWN GAME. 

Rule 24. A drawn game shall be declared by the Umpire 
when he termin game on account of darkness or rain, after 

five equal innings have been played, if the score at the time is 
.1 on the last even inning- played; but if the side that went 
second to bat is then at the bat, and has scored the same number 
of runs as the other side, the Umpire shall declare the game drawn 
without regard to the score of the last equal innings. 

For instance, if the fifth innings has ended, 
and the sixth has been commenced, and the score 
is 6 to 5 at the end of the first part of the sixth 
innings, and the side second at the bat have but 
five runs to their credit, and before a hand is out 
a run ties the game, and rain or darkness obliges 
the Umpire to call the game, the contest becomes 
a drawn game. But if the score at the end of T 
fifth even innings is equal and the side first at the 
bat fails to score, and their opponents then get in 
one run before a hand is out. and the Umpire 
then calls the game on account of rain or dark- 
ness, the side last at the bat wins. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 179 

A CALLED GAME. 

Rule 25. If the Umpire calls " Game" on account of dark- 
ness or rain at any time after five innings have been completed by 
both sides, the score shall be that of the last equal innings played, 
unless the side second at bat shall have scored one or more runs 
than the side first at bat, in which case the score of the game 
shall be the total number of runs made. 

A FORFEITED GAME. 

Rule 26. A forfeited game shall be declared by the Umpire in 
favor of the club not in fault, at the request of such club, in the 
following cases — 

Sec. 1. If the nine of a club fail to appear upon afield, or 
being upon the field, fail to begin the game within five minutes 
after the Umpire has called " Play," at the hour appointed for the 
beginning of the game, unless such delay in appearing or in com- 
mencing the game be unavoidable. 

The " unavoidable " delay above mentioned 
means a detention caused by the breaking down 
of any conveyance, or that of any accident on a 
railroad. 

Sec. 2. If, after the game has begun, one side refuses or fails 
to continue playing, unless such game has been suspended or ter- 
minated by the Umpire. 

Sec. 3. If, after play has been suspended by the Umpire, one 
side fails to resume playing within one minute after the Umpire 
has called "Play/' 

This is a very important rule, as it gives the 
Umpire full power to put a stop to the unneces- 
sary delays caused by continuous disputing of 
the Umpire's decisions. When delays were 
points to play in the game, in the case of an 



180 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

approaching shower or of darkness, and those 
delays could be obtained by constant kicking, the 
Umpire is empowered to call play the moment he 
renders every decision, and if the kicking is con- 
tinued one single moment thereafter, the game 
becomes forfeited under the rule. 

Sbc. 4. If, in the opinion of the Umpire, any one of these 
rules is willfully violated. 

Sec. 5. If, after ordering the removal of a player, as autho- 
rized by Rule 57, Sec. 5, said order is not obeyed within five 
minutes. 

Sec. 6. In case the Umpire declares a game forfeited, he shall 
transmit a written notice thereof to the President of the Associa- 
tion within twenty-four hours thereafter. 

NO GAME. 

Rule 27. " No Game " shall be declared by the Umpire if he 
shall terminate play on account of rain or darkness, before five 
innings on each side are completed. 

It is absolutely essential that five innings on 
each side shall have been played to a finish and 
the sixth about to be commenced before the game 
can legally be ended as a game. In any other 
case u No Game" must be called by the Umpire, 
such as in the instance of the second part of the 
fifth innings not being completed. 

SUBSTITUTES. 

Rule 28. Sec. 1. In every championship game, each team 
shall be required to have present on the field, in uniform, at least 
two or more substitute players. 

Sec. 2. Two players, whose names shall be printed on the 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 181 

score card as extra players, may be substituted at any time by 
either club; but no player so retired shall thereafter participate in 
the game. In addition thereto, a substitute may be allowed at any 
time, in place of a player disabled in the game then being played, 
by reason of illness or injury, of the nature and extent of which 
the Umpire shal] be the sole judge. 

This is a very important rule, and the changes 
introduced require to be well understood, Under 
this rule, as it now is, the Captain of either nine is 
given the power to introduce three distinct pitch- 
ers in the game, viz., the one originally named in 
the batting order, and two extra men; or he can 
change his battery entire by substituting a 
pitcher and catcher. This, too, is independent of 
any substitution of players for those who may be 
disabled by illness or injury. These changes of 
players in putting in extra men, too, can be made 
at any period of an innings, or of a game. 

Sec. 3. The base runner shall not have a substitute run for 
him except by consent of the Captains of the contesting teams. 

A substitute for a base-runner — and he only 
—can only be introduced by consent of the oppos- 
ing nine's Captain; if he refuses, that ends it. He 
can, of course, designate the particular substitute 
he allows to run. 

CHOICE OP INNINGS— CONDITION OF GROUND. 

Rule 29. The choice of innings shall be given to the Captain 
of the home club, who shall also be the sole iudge of the fitness 
of the ground for beginning a game after rain. 



182 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

The advantage in the choice of innings lies with 
the side who go in last at the bat. The Captain 
of the home team is sole judge of the fitness of 
the field for beginning a game, as to its being too 
wet or muddy, etc. But after play is called, and 
a shower wets the field again, the Umpire then 
becomes the sole judge as to whether the field is 
in proper condition to resume play or not. 

THE DELIVERY OF THE BALL — FAIR AND UNFAIR BALLS. 

Rule 30. A fair ball is a ball delivered by the pitcher 
while standing wholly within the lines of his position, and facing 
the batsman; the ball, so delivered, to pass over the home base, 
not lower than the batsman's knee, nor higher than his shoulder. 

Rule 31. An unfair ball is a ball delivered by the pitcher, 
as in Rule 30, except that the ball does not pass over the home 
base, or does pass over the home base, above the batsman's 
shoulder, or below the knee. 

There are two classes of "fair" balls referred 
to in the rules, one of which is the ' ' fair ball ' : 
mentioned as touching fair ground from the bat, 
and the fair ball referred to in Rule 30. It w^ould 
be well to call the latter a good ball, as of old, 
leaving the term "fair" ball to refer solely to 
balls hit to fair ground. The Umpire, in judging 
the range of balls — as referred to in Rule 31 — 
should bear in mind the fact that the rule requires 
the ball to be below the knee, and above the 
shoulder, to be an unfair ball. If it comes in on 



.■ 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 183 

the line of the knee, or the shoulder, it is a legal 
ball. 

BALKING. 

Rule 32. A balk is — 

Sec. 1. Any motion made by the pitcher to deliver the ball to 
the bat without delivering it, and shall be held to include any and 
every accustomed motion with the hands, arms, or feet, or posi- 
tion of the body assumed by the pitcher in his delivery of the ball, 
and any motion calculated to deceive a base-runner, except the 
ball be accidentally dropped. 

Sec. 2. The holding of the ball by the pitcher so long as to 
delay the game unnecessarily; or, 

Sec. 3. Any motion to deliver the ball, or the delivering the 
ball to the bat by the pitcher when any part of his person is upon 
ground outside of the lines of his position, including all prelimi- 
nary motions with the hands, arms, and feet. 

The balk rule was violated last season by 
Umpires, both in the League and the Association, 
and the result was a poorer record of base-running 
than in 1888. In the first place the pitcher was 
frequently allowed to be too slow in his delivery, 
thereby violating Section 2 of the above rule. Then, 
too, he was allowed to violate the first section, in 
making motions well calculated to deceive the 
base-runner, which the rule explicitly prohibits. 
The pitcher commits a balk every time he makes 
any movement of his arms or his body, such as he 
is regularly accustomed to in his method of 
delivery, and if he makes any one of these pre- 
liminary motions, and then throws to first base 



1S4 of the Base Ball Meld. 

to catch a runner napping, or makes a feint to 
throw, he unquestionably makes a balk. The 
base-runner on a base alone is entitled to a base 
on a balk in all cases where the pitcher makes a 
motion to deliver the ball to the bat, and fails to 
do so. The batsman is only entitled to a base on 
a balk, when the ball is actually delivered to the 
bat after the pitcher has stepped outside the lines 
of his position; or has made two steps in his 
delivery: or has failed to make a pause, and to 
stand in his position after making a feint to throw 
to a base. Of course, when the batsman is given 
a base on a balk, every runner on a base takes a 
base also on the penalty. 

DEAD BALLS. 

Rcle S3. A dead ball is a ball delivered to the bat by the 
pitcher that touches the batsman"s bat without being struck at; or 
any part of the batsman's person or clothing while standing in his 
position without being struck at; or any part of the Umpire's 
person or clothing, while on foul ground, without first passing the 
catcher. 

The Umpire should be careful and watch the 
action of the batsman when attempting to l - ' bunt " 
the ball— viz.. to let the thrown ball strike the bat 
— so as to be sure that it is not a "bunt," but an 
accidental hit and consequently a dead ball. 

Rule 34. In case of a foul strike, foul hit ball not legally 
caught out, dead ball, or base-runner put out for being struck 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 185 

by a fair hit ball, the ball shall not be considered in play until it 
is held by the pitcher standing in his position. 

BLOCK BALLS. 

Rule 35. Sec. 1. A block is a batted or thrown ball that is 
stopped or handled by any person not engaged in the game. 

Sec. 2. Whenever a block occurs the Umpire shall declare it, 
and base-runners may run the bases, without being put out, 
until the ball has been returned to and held by the pitcher stand- 
ing in his position. 

Sec 3. In the case of a block, if the person not engaged in 
the game should retain possession of the ball, or throw or kick it 
beyond the reach of the fielders, the Umpire should call ' ' Time," 
and require each base-runner to stop at the last base touched by 
him until the ball be returned to the pitcher standing in his 
position. 

The Umpire is requested to watch all play 
likely to result in a " block" ball, very carefully, 
and to promptly call " block ball" in a loud 
voice the moment the block occurs; and be very 
prompt in calling time in the case of any such 
action of an out-fielder as that referred to in Sec- 
tion 3 of the rule. The ball is not in play after 
a block has been called by the Umpire, until 
the ball is held by the pitcher while standing in 
his "box." Whenever the pitcher sees that 
" block" is likely to occur, he should remain in 
his box until the ball is fielded in. 

THE SCORING OF RUNS. 

Rule 36. One run shall be scored every time a base-runner, 
after having legally touched the first three bases, shall touch the 



186 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

home base before three men are put out by the opposing side. 
Exception: If the third man is forced out, or is put out before 
reaching first base, a run shall not be scored. 

If, when two men are out, a base hit is made 
while a runner is on second base and none at 
first base, and the runner on second is caught 
napping between second and third, and the run- 
ner on third reaches home before the runner 
caught between bases is touched out, the run 
counts; but if, under somewhat similar circum- 
stances, there is also a runner on first as well 
as second, in such case all that is necessary for 
the base player at third, is to hold the ball 
there before the runner from third gets home, 
to prevent the run from counting, as, in such 
case, the runner from second to third is forced 
off, and there is no necessity to run him down 
to touch him. 

THE BATTDsG RULES. 

Rule 37. A fair hit is a ball batted by the batsman, standing 
in his position, that first touches the ground, the first base, the 
third base, any part of the person of a player, Umpire, or any 
other object that is in front of or on either side of the foul 
lines, or batted directly to the ground by the batsman, stand- 
ing in his position, that (whether it first touches foul or fair 
ground) bounds or rolls within the foul lines, between home 
and first, or home and third bases, without interference by a 
player. 

Rule 38. A foul hit is a ball batted by the batsman, stand- 
ing in his position, that first touches the ground, any part of 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. * 187 

the person of a player, or any other object that is behind either 
of the foul lines, or that strikes the person of such batsman, 
while standing in his position, or batted directly to the ground 
by the batsman standing in his position, that (whether it first 
touches foul or fair ground) bounds or rolls outside the foul 
lines, between home and first or home and third bases with- 
out interference by a player. Provided, that a foul hit not 
rising above the batsman's head and caught by the catcher playing 
within ten feet of the home base, shall be termed a foul tip. 

There is a very important difference between a 
ball hit directly from the bat to the ground and 
a ball hit into the air from the bat. In the 
former case the character of the hit ball, as to 
its being fair or foul, is decided entirely by 
the fact of its rolling or bounding from fair 
ground to foul, or from foul ground to fair. 
But, in the case of a ball hit in the air, it becomes 
fair or foul from its first touching fair or foul 
ground, no matter in what direction it may after- 
ward roll. In the case of a ball batted direct to 
the ground, the fielder should not touch the ball 
until it has stopped rolling. For only then is it 
settled either as a fair or foul ball. But if he 
does pick it up before ifc stops, it becomes fair or 
foul according to whether the fielder is standing 
upon fair or foul ground at the time he fields 
the ball. 

BALLS BATTED OUTSIDE THE GROUNDS. 

Rule 39. When a batted ball passes outside the grounds, the 
Umpire shall decide it fair should it disappear within, or foul 



188 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

should it disappear outside of the range of the foul iines > and 
Rules 37 and 38 are to be construed accordingly. 

Rule 40. A fair batted ball that goes over the fence at a less 
distance than 210 feet from home base shall entitle the bats- 
man to two bases and a distinctive line shall be marked on the 
fence at this point. 

The latter rule is intended to govern the batting 
on ball grounds not sufficiently large in the out- 
field for ordinary out-field play. 

STRIKES. 

Rule 41. A strike is— 

Sec. 1. A ball struck at by the batsman without its touching 
his bat; or, 

Sec 2. A fair ball legally delivered by the pitcher, but not 
struck at by the batsman. 

Sec. 3. Any obvious attempt to make a foul hit. 

Rule 42. A foul strike is a ball batted by the batsman when 
any part of his person is upon ground outside the lines of the 
batsman's position. 

An " obvious attempt" to hit the ball foul 
would occur if the batsman turned round and 
attempted to hit the ball just as it had passed 
him to the left of his position. It should be under- 
stood that no attempt to bunt a ball can be justly 
construed as an effort to hit a foul ball intention- 
ally. 

THE BATSMAN IS OUT. 

Rule 43. The batsman is out — 

Sec 1. If he fails to take his position at the bat in his order of 
br.tting, unless the error be discovered and the proper batsman 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 189 

takes his position before a fair hit has been made; and in such 
case the balls and strikes called must be counted in the time at 
bat of the proper batsman. Provided, this rule shall not take 
effect unless the out is declared before the ball is delivered to the 
succeeding batsman. 

If the wrong batsman goes to the bat and he 
makes a fair hit before the error is discovered 
and declared, the change of batsman can not be 
made until the turn at the bat comes round again. 
In all cases the out must be declared before 
another ball is thrown to the bat. 

Sec. 2. If he fails to take his position within one minute 
after the Umpire has called for the batsman. 

If there be any attempt to gain time by delays 
in batsmen going to the bat, the Umpire should 
take his watch, ready to note the time, and 
promptly declare the dilatory batsman out on the 
expiration of the one minute. 

Sec. 3. If he makes a foul hit, other than a foul tip as 
defined in Rule 38, and the ball be momentarily held by a fielder 
before touching the ground. Provided, it be not caught in a field- 
er's hat or cap, or touch some object other than a fielder before 
being caught. 

Sec 4. If he makes a foul strike. 

Sec. 5. If he attempts to hinder the catcher from fielding 
the ball, evidently without effort to make a fair hit. 

The action of the batsman should be closely 
watched in this regard, when a runner is on 
first base and the catcher is trying to throw him 
out. 



19o Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

Sec. 6. If, while the first base be occupied by a base-runner, 
three strikes be called on him by the Umpire, except when two 
men are already out. 

It makes no difference whether the catcher 
holds the ball on the fly or not, after the third 
strike has been called, the striker is out when 
there is a runner on first base, and only one 
man out when the third strike is called. In all 
other cases the catch must be made in order to 
put him out, or otherwise the catcher has to try to 
throw him out at first base. 

Sec 7. If, while making the third strike, the ball hits his 
person or clothing. 

In other words, if he strikes at an inshoot ball 
after two strikes have been called, and the ball — 
without touching the bat — hits his person or 
clothing, he can not be given his base on being hit 
by a pitched ball, and neither can the ball be 
called dead, but neither more nor less than the 
third strike, and the batsman decided out. 

Sec 8. If, after two strikes have been called, the batsman 
obviously attempts to make a foul hit, as in Section 3, Rule 41. 

BASE-RUNNING RULES. 

WHEN THE BATSMAN BECOMES A BASE-RUNNER. 

Rule 44. The batsman becomes a base-runner — 
Sec 1. Instantly after he makes a fair hit. 
Sec. 2. Instantly after four balls have been called by the 
Umpire. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 191 

Sec. 3. Instantly after three strikes have been declared by the 
Umpire. 

Sec. 4. If, while he be a batsman, his person or clothing be 
hit by a ball from the pitcher, unless — in the opinion of the 
Umpire — he intentionally permits himself to be so hit. 

Sec 5. Instantly after an illegal delivery of a ball by the 
pitcher. 

An illegal delivery of the ball is made whenever 
the pitcher delivers the ball to the bat, after 
stepping outside the lines of his position; after 
failing to pause before sending the ball to the 
bat; after making a feint to throw to first base; 
and after raising his rear foot from the ground 
before the ball leaves his hand. The ordinary 
balk, however, does not give the batsman his 
base, but only the runners. 

BASES TO BE TOUCHED. 

Rule 45. The base-runner must touch each base in regular 
order, viz.: First, second, third, and home bases; and when 
obliged to return (except on a foul hit) must retouch the base or 
bases in reverse order. He shall only be considered as holding a 
base after touching it, and shall then be entitled to hold such base 
until he has legally touched the next base in order, or has been 
legally forced to vacate it for a succeeding base-runner. 

There is an exception to the latter part of the 
rule, and that is in the case of a runner being on 
first and second bases, or second and third bases, 
and an attempt to steal bases is made. For 
instance; suppose the runner on third attempts to 
steal home, and the runner on second in the 



192 Stories of the Base Ball Field. . 

interim runs to third and touches that base; under 
the ordinary working of the rule he would be 
entitled to hold that base; but, in this exceptional 
case, if the runner trying to steal home finds 
that he can not do it successfully, and tries and 
succeeds in getting back to third base he is entitled 
to that base, and the runner from second to third, 
who has touched and held third must return to 
second, and if touched while standing on third 
base, he is out. 

ENTITLED TO BASES. 

Rule 46. The base-runner shall be entitled, without being 
put out, to take the base in the following cases — 

Sec. 1. If, while he was batsman, the Umpire called four 
balls. 

Sec 2. If the Umpire awards a succeeding batsman a base 
on four balls, or for being hit with a pitched ball, or in case of an 
illegal delivery — as in Rule 44, Sec. 5 — and the base-runner is 
thereby forced to vacate the base held by him. 

Sec. 3. If the Umpire calls a "balk." 

Sec. 4. If a ball delivered by the pitcher passes the catcher 
and touches the Umpire or any fence or building within ninety 
feet of the home base. 

Sec. 5. If, upon a fair hit, the ball strikes the person or cloth- 
ing of the Umpire on fair ground. 

This is intended to apply when the double 
umpire plan is in use. 

Sec 6. If he be prevented from making a base by the obstruc- 
tion of an adversary. 

Sec 7. If the fielder stop or catch a batted ball with his hat. 
or any part of his dress. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 193 

This ; ' obstruction of an adversary " has two 
distinct meanings under the rules. Of course, when 
the base-player holds the ball in his hand ready 
to touch an advancing adversary, he stands in the 
runner's way and virtually obstructs his adver- 
sary; but, in this case, it is a legal obstruction. 
But, when he does not hold the ball and then in 
any way obstructs a runner, the latter can not be 
put out even if afterward touched off the base. 

RETURNING TO BASES. 

Rule 47. The base-runner shall return to his base, and shall 
be entitled to so return without being put out — 

Sec. 1. If the Umpire declares a foul tip (as denned in Rule 
38) or any other foul hit not legally caught by a fielder. 

Sec 2. If the Umpire declares a foul strike. 

Sec 3. If the Umpire declares a dead ball, unless it be also 
the fourth unfair ball, and he be thereby forced to take the next 
base, as provided in Rule 46, Sec, 2. 

Sec 4. If the person or clothing of the Umpire interferes 
with the catcher, or he is struck by a ball thrown by the catcher 
to intercept a base-runner. 

WHEN BASE-RUNNERS ARE OUT. 

Rule 48. The base-runner is out — 

Sec 1. If, after three strikes have been declared against 
him while batsman, and the catcher fail to catch the third 
strike ball, he plainly attempts to hinder the catcher from fielding 
the ball. 

Sec 2. If, having made a fair hit while batsman, such fair 
hit ball be momentarily held by a fielder, before touching the 
ground or any object other than a fielder. Provided, it be not 
caught in a fielder's hat or cap. 
13 



194 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

Sec. 8. If, when the Umpire has declared three strikes on 
him, while batsman, the third-strike ball be momentarily held by 
a fielder before touching the ground. Provided, it be not caught 
in a fielder's hat or cap, or touch some object other than a fielder, 
before being caught. 

Sec. 4. If, after three strikes, or a fair hit, he be touched 
with the ball in the hand of a fielder before such base-runner 
touches first base. 

If the base-runner from home to first base 
reaches the base — that is, touches it — at the same 
moment that the fielder holds the ball on the 
base, the runner is not out. It must be plain to 
the Umpire that the ball is held by the fielder 
before the runner touches the base, or he is not 
out. 

Sec. 5. If, after three strikes or a fair hit, the ball be securely 
held by a fielder, while touching first base with any part of his 
person, before such base -runner touches first base. 

Sec 6. If, in running the last half of the distance from home 
base to first base, he runs outside the three-feet lines, as defined 
in Rule 10; except that he must do so if necessary to avoid 
a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, and in such case shall 
not be declared out. , 

Umpires should closely watch the runner from 
home to first to see that he does not touch fair 
ground in running along the pathway; for, if he 
does, he must be declared out. Runners frequently 
run off the path, touching fair ground, and, when 
they do, they are out. 

Sec 7. If, in running from first to second base, from second 
to third base, or from third to home base, he runs more than three 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 195 

feet from a direct line between such bases, to avoid being touched 
by the ball in the hands of a fielder; but, in case a fielder be occupy- 
ing the base-runner's proper path, attempting to field a batted 
ball, then the base-runner shall run out of the path, and behind 
said fielder, and shall not be declared out for so doing. 

The running out of the reach of a fielder hold- 
ing the ball ready to touch a runner, must be 
plainly done beyond the distance of three feet to 
put the runner out. It makes no matter how far 
he runs oif the line, except the fielder holds the 
ball in his hand and reaches out to touch the 
runner. If the runner is near the fielder while 
the latter is attempting to field the ball, then the 
runner must run out of his reach in order to 
avoid obstructing him. 

Sec. 8. If he fails to avoid a fielder attempting to field a 
batted ball, in the manner described in Sections 6 and 7 of this 
rule; or, if he in any way obstructs a fielder attempting to field 
a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball. Pro- 
vided, that, if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, 
and the base-runner comes in contact with one or more of them, 
the Umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit 
of this rule, and shall not decide the base- runner out for coming 
in contact with any other fielder. 

This obstructing a fielder is a very important 
matter for the Umpire's decision, and it requires 
the closest attention. For instance; suppose a 
fielder is under a fly-ball which is falling on the 
line of the bases; in such case, the runner has 
no right of way on the base path, but must run 



19(3 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

on one side of the fielder to avoid obstructing 
him in making the catch. This rule applies in all 
cases of fielding a batted ball; but the base-run- 
ner can not intentionally interfere with a fielder 
attempting to field a thrown ball, and such inter- 
ference is at all times intentional where it could 
readily have been avoided, such as purposely 
getting in the way of a thrown ball so that it 
might strike him on the back, or putting up his 
hand to cause it to glance off his arm, etc. 

Sec. 9. If, at any time while the ball is in play, he be touched 
by the ball in the hands of a fielder, unless some part of his per- 
son is touching a base he is entitled to occupy. Provided, the 
ball be held by the fielder after touching him; but (exception as 
to first base), in running to first base, he may overrun said base 
without being put out for being off said base, after first touching 
it, provided he returns at once and retouches the base, after which 
he may be put out as at any other base. If, in overrunning first 
base, he also attempts to run to second base, or, after passing the 
base he turns to his left from the foul line, he shall forfeit such 
exemption from being put out. 

So long as the runner overrunning first base 
keeps on the right side of the foul line he is 
entitled to exemption from being put out in 
returning; but the moment he crosses the foul 
line he forfeits such exemption. In attempting 
to run to second base after overrunning first, he is 
not required to return to first, and retouch that 
base before running to second. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 197 

Sec. 10. If, when a fair or foul hit ball (other than a foul 
tip as referred to in Rule 38) is legally caught by a fielder, such 
ball is legally held by a fielder on the base occupied by the 
base-runner when such ball was struck (or the base-runner be 
touched with the ball in the hands of a fielder), before he retouches 
said base after such fair or foul hit ball was so caught. Provided, 
that the base-runner shall not be out in such case, if, after the 
ball was legally caught as above, it be delivered to the bat by the 
pitcher before the fielder holds it on said base, or touches the 
base-runner with it; but if the base-runner in attempting to reach 
a base, detaches it before being touched or forced out, he shall 
be declared safe. 

On all fair or foul fly-balls caught, runners on 
bases who leave a base the moment such ball was 
hit, must return to them at once, and if the fielder 
catching the fly-ball throws it to the base-player 
in time before the runner can get back, a double 
play is made, the batsman being out on the catch, 
and the runner on the base. 

Sec. 11. If, when a batsman becomes a base-runner, the 
first base, or the first and second bases, or the first, second, 
and third bases be occupied, any base-runner so occupying a 
base shall cease to be entitled to hold it, until any following base- 
runner is put out and may be put out at the next base or by being 
touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder in the same manner 
as in running to first base, at any time before any following base- 
runner is put out. 

The base-runners in such case are " forced" 
off the bases they occupy by the batsman' s fair 
hit, and they can be put out at the base they are 
forced to run to, just the same as in running to 



198 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

first base, simply by the player holding the ball 
on the base. 

Sec. 12. If a fair hit ball strike him before touching the fielder, 
and in such case eo base shall be run unless forced by the batsman 
becoming a base-runner, and no run shall be scored, or any other 
base-runner put out. 

The change in the rules prevents the double 
play which could be made under the rule of 1889. 
For instance, if a ball from the bat struck the 
runner running from first to second, the fielder 
fielding the ball could throw it to first base on 
time to put the striker out. Under the new rule, 
only the runner who is hit by the batted ball — and 
before it touches a fielder — can be put out. 

Sec. 13. If, when running to a base or forced to return to a 
base, he fail to touch the intervening base or bases, if any, in the 
order prescribed in Uule 45, he may be put out at the base he fails 
to touch, or by being touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder, 
in the same manner as in running to first base. 

In returning to a base on a foul ball the runner 
is not obliged to touch the intervening bases, thus; 
if the batsman hit a ball to the out-field on which 
he runs to third, and the ball be declared foul, the 
runner can return direct to home base, without 
retouching second and first. 

Sec. 14. If, when the Umpire calls "Play," after any sus- 
pension of a game, he fails to return to and touch the base he 
occupied when ' ' Time " was called before touching the next 
base. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 199 

The call of "Time" by the Umpire deadens 
the ball, and until ' 4 Play ' ' is called, runners can 
not leave the bases they were holding when time 
was called. 

WHEN BATSMAN OR BASE-RUNNER IS OUT. 

Rule 49. The Umpire shall declare the batsman or base-run- 
ner out, without waiting for an appeal for such decision, in all 
cases where such player is put out in accordance with these rules, 
except as provided in Rule 48, Sees. 10 and 14. 

The Umpire should be required to declare how 
the batsman or base-runner was put out in all 
cases. It is the most satisfactory. 

COACHING RULES. 

Rule 50. The Captains and coachers are restricted in coach- 
ing to the base-runner only, and are not allowed to address any 
remarks except to the base-runner, and then only in words of 
necessary direction ; and no player shall use language which will 
in any manner refer to or reflect upon a player of the opposing 
club or the audience. To enforce the above, the Captain of the 
opposite side may call the attention of the Umpire to the offense, 
and upon a repetition of the same the club shall be debarred from 
further coaching during the game. 

The noisy coaching in vogue last season is a 
nuisance the Umpire should put a stop to. It is 
plainly not "words in necessary direction," but is 
intended solely to annoy the pitcher. If the rule 
is violated, the penalty is that the side on which 
the fault lies is prohibited from further coaching 
during the game. 



200 Stories of the Base Ball Meld. 

THE UMPIRE. 

Rule 51 . The Umpire shall not be changed during the progress 
of a game, except for reason of illness or injury. 

.HIS POWERS AND JURISDICTION. 

Rule 52. Sec. 1. The Umpire is master of the field from 
the commencement to the termination of the game, and is entitled 
to the respect of the spectators, and any person offering any 
insult or indignity to him must be promptly ejected from the 
grounds. 

Sec 2. He must be invariably addressed by the players as 
" Mr. Umpire; " and he must compel the players to observe the 
provisions of all the playing rules; and he is hereby invested with 
authority to order any player to do or omit to do any act as he 
may deem necessary, to give force and effect to any and all of 
such provisions. 

The power of deciding all points of play, 
whether covered by the rules expressly or not, is 
given the Umpire in Section 2 of the above rule, 
in which he is empowered to order any player 
"to do or to omit to do" any act he may deem 
necessary to give force and effect to the spirit of 
the Code of Rules. In fact, as stated in the rule 
— the Umpire is "master of the field" from the 
first innings of the game to the last, 

SPECIAL DUTIES. 

Rule 53. The Umpire's duties shall be as follows— 
Sec 1. The Umpire is the sole and absolute judge of play. 
In no instance shall any person be allowed to question the cor- 
rectness of any decision made by him except the Captains of the. 
contending nines, and no other player shall at such time leave his 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 201 

position in the field, his place at the bat, on the bases, or players' 
bench, to approach or address the Umpire in word or act upon 
such disputed decision . Neither shall any manager or other officers 
of either club — except the Captains as before mentioned — be per- 
mitted to go upon the field or address the Umpire in regard to 
such disputed decision, under a penalty of a forfeiture of the game 
to the. opposing club. The Umpire shall in no case appeal to any 
spectator for information in regard to any case, and shall not 
reverse his decision on any point of play on the testimony of 
any player or bystander. 

Tljis rule has hitherto been violated with impu- 
nity each season, and it is high time that it be 
strictly carried out to the letter. It expressly 
prohibits any player from speaking to the Umpire 
during a game except the Captain, and the latter 
even has no right to dispute a single decision in 
a game in which a simple error of judgment is 
alone involved, such as in the case of a base- 
runner being touched while off a base or not, or 
as to a ball delivered by the pitcher to the bat, 
he may justly or unjustly decide a called ball or 
a strike. In all such cases the Captain has no 
right to address a word to the Umpire under 
this rule, except to ask for judgment. The utter 
uselessness of disputing decisions involving only 
errors of judgment is shown in the fact that no 
such decision can be reversed. Only when the - 
Umpire errs in his interpretation of the letter of 
any special rule can the Captain call for an expla- 
nation, or appeal for a reversal of the illegal 



202 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

decision. It should be borne in mind that the 
penalty for a violation of this rale is forfeiture 
of the game. 

Sec. 2. Before the commencement of a game, the Umpire 
shall see that the rules governing all the materials of the game are 
strictly observed. He shall ask the Captain of the home club 
whether there are any special ground rules to be enforced, and if 
there are, he shall see that they are duly enforced. Provided, they 
do not conflict with any of these rules. He shall also ascertain 
whether the fence in the rear of the catcher's position is distant 
ninety feet from the home base. 

Sec 3. The Umpire must keep the contesting nines playing 
constantly from the commencement of the game to its termination, 
allowing such delays only as are rendered unavoidable by accident, 
injury, or rain. He must, until the completion of the game, 
require the players of each side to promptly take their positions in 
the field as soon as the third man is put out, and must require the 
first striker of the opposite side to be in his position at the bat as 
soon as the fielders are in their places. 

Sec 4. The Umpire shall count and call every " unfair ball" 
delivered by the pitcher, and every "dead ball," if also an 
unfair ball, as a "ball," and he shall also count and call every 
"strike." Neither a "ball" nor a "strike" shall be counted or 
called until the ball has passed the home base. He shall also 
declare every "dead ball," "block," "foul hit," "foul strike," 
and "balk." 

Rule 54. For the special benefit of the patrons of the game, 
and because the offenses specified are under his immediate juris- 
diction, and not subject to appeal by players, the attention of the 
Umpire is particularly directed to possible violations of the purpose 
and spirit of the rules, of the following character — 

Sec 1. Laziness or loafing of players in taking their places 
in the field, or those allotted them by the rules when their side is 



Stories of tire Base Ball Field. 203 

at the bat, and especially any failure to keep the bats in the racks 
provided for them; to be ready (two men) to take position as 
batsmen, and to remain upon the players' bench, except when 
otherwise required by the rules. 

Sec. 2. Any attempt by players of the side at bat, by calling 
to a fielder, other than the one designated by his Captain, to field 
a ball, or by any other equally disreputable means seeking to 
disconcert a fielder. 

Sec. 3. The rules make a marked distinction between hin- 
drance of an adversary in fielding a batted or thrown ball. This 
has been done to rid the game of the childish excuses and claims 
formerly made by a fielder failing to hold a ball to put out a base- 
runner. But there may be cases of a base-runner so flagrantly 
violating the spirit of the rules and of the game in obstructing a 
fielder from fielding a thrown ball that it would become the duty 
of the Umpire, not only to declare the base-runner "out" 
(and to compel any succeeding base-runners to hold their bases), 
but also to impose a heavy fine upon him. For example: If the 
base-runner plainly strike at the bail while passing him, to prevent 
its being caught by a fielder; if he holds, a fielder's arms so as to 
disable him from catching the ball, or if he run against or knock 
the fielder down for the same purpose. 

CALLING "PLAY" AND "TIME." 

Rule 55. The Umpire must call "Play," promptly at the 
hour designated by the home club, and on the call of " Play," the 
game must immediately begin. When he calls "Time," play 
shall be suspended until he calls "Play" again, and during the 
interim no player shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored. 
The Umpire shall suspend play only for an accident to himself 
or a player (but in case of accident to a fielder, " Time " shall not 
be called until the ball be returned to, and held by the pitcher, 
standing in his position), or in case rain falls so heavily that the 
spectators are compelled, by the severity of the storm, to seek 
shelter, in which case he shall note the time of suspension, and 



204 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

should such rahi continue to fall thirty minutes thereafter, he shall 
terminate the game; or to enforce order incase of annoyance from 
spectators. 

The Umpire can not suspend play on account 
of rain, unless it rains so heavily that spectators 
are obliged to seek shelter from ; ; the severity of 
the storm. ' ' An ordinary drizzle or a gentle shower 
does not produce this effect as a rule. " Time''' 
can always be called by the Umpire to enforce 
order in case of any portion of the crowd becom- 
ing unruly. 

Rule 56. The Umpire is only allowed, by the rules, to call 
" Time" in case of an accident to himself or a player, a " block/' 
as referred to in Rule 35, Sec. 3, or in case of rain, as denned by 
the rules. The practice of players suspending the game to dis- 
cuss or contest a decision with the Umpire, is a gross violation of 
the rules, and the Umpire must promptly fine any player who 
interrupts the game in this manner. 

The Umpire must do more than fine a player or 
players who violate this rule. He must call 
"Play" immediately, and forfeit the game in 
favor of the side at fault, within one minute after 
play has been called, if the disputing of decis- 
ions does not cease within that time. 

INFLICTING FINES. 

Rule 57. The Umpire is empowered to inflict fines of not less 
than $5 nor more than $25 for the first offense on players 
during the progress of a game, as follows — 

Sec. 1. For indecent or improper language addressed to the 
audience, the Umpire, or any player. 



Stories of the Base Ball Field, 205 

Sec 2. For the Captain or coacher, willfully failing to remain 
within the legal bounds of his position, except upon an appeal by 
the Captain from the Umpire's decision upon a misinterpretation 
of the rules. 

Sec 3. For the disobedience by a player of any other of his 
orders or for any other violation of these rules. 

Sec 4. In case the Umpire imposes a fine on a player, he shall 
at once notify the Captain of the offending player's side, and shall 
transmit a written notice thereof to the president of the association 
or league within twenty-four hours thereafter, under the penalty 
of having said fine taken from his own salary. 

Sec 5. A repetition of any of the above offenses shall, at the 
discretion of the Umpire, subject the offender either to a repetition 
of the fine or to removal from the field, and the immediate substi- 
tution of another player then in uniform. 

Umpires did not enforce the rule last year, of 
removing an offending player from the field for 
repeatedly disputing an Umpire's decision, as 
they should have done. It is a very effectual rule 
against kickers, especially kicking Captains, who 
are nuisances on the diamond. 

FIELD rules. 

Rule 58. No club shall allow open betting or pool selling 
upon its grounds, nor in any building owned or occupied by it. 

Rule 59. No person shall be allowed upon any part of the 
field during the progress of the game (in addition to the players 
in uniform, the manager on each side, and the Umpire) except 
such officers of the law as may be present in uniform, and such 
officials of the home club as may be necessary to preserve the 
peace. 

Rule 60. No Umpire, Manager, Captain, or player, shall 
address the audience during the progress of a game, except in case 
of necessary explanation. 



206 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

Rule 61 . Every club sliall furnish sufficient police force upon 
its own grounds to preserve order, and in the event of a crowd 
entering the field during the progress of a game, and interfering 
with the play in any manner, the visiting club may refuse to play 
further until the field be cleared. If the ground be not cleared 
within fifteen minutes thereafter, the visiting club may claim, and 
shall be entitled to, the game by a score of nine runs to none (no 
matter what number of innings have been played). 

There should be a rule in the code, as there is 
in the constitution of the league, prohibiting any 
player of a team from being party to any bet or 
wager on the game in which he participates. 

GENERAL DEFINITIONS. 

Rule 62. "Play" is the order of the Umpire to begin the 
game, or to resume play after its suspension. 

Rule 63. "Time" is the order of the Umpire to suspend 
play. Such suspension must not extend beyond the day of the 
game. 

Rule 64. " Game" is the announcement by the Umpire that 
the game is terminated. 

Rule 65. "An Inning" is the term at bat of the nine players 
representing a club in a game, and is completed when three of 
such players have been put out as provided in these rules. 

Rule 66. u A Time at Bat" is the term at bat of a batsman. 
It begins when he takes his position, and continues until he is put 
out, or becomes a base-runner; except when, because of being hit 
by a pitched ball, or in case of an illegal delivery by the pitcher, 
as in Rule 44. 

Rule 67. " Legal "or " Legally " signifies as required by these 
rules. 

SCORING. 

Rule 68. In order to promote uniformity in scoring champion- 
ship games, the following instructions, suggestions, and defini- 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 207 

tions are made for the benefit of scorers, and they are required to 
make all scores in accordance therewith. 

BATTING. 

Sec. 1. The first item in the tabulated score, after the player's 
name and position, shall be the number of times he has been at 
bat during the game. The time or times when the player has 
been sent to base by being hit by a pitched ball, by the pitcher's 
illegal delivery, or by a base on balls, shall not be included in this 
column. 

Sec. 2. In the second column should be set down the runs 
made by each player. 

Sec. 3. In the third column should be placed the first-base 
hits made by each player. A base hit should be scored in the 
following cases — 

When the ball from the bat strikes the ground within the foul 
lines, and out of reach of the fielders. 

When a hit ball is partially or wholly stopped by a fielder in 
motion, but such player can not recover himself in time to handle 
the ball before the striker reaches first base. 

When a hit ball is hit so sharply to an in-fielder that he caD not 
handle it in time to put out the batsman. In case of doubt over 
this class of hits, score a base hit, and exempt the fielder from the 
charge of an error. 

When a ball is hit so slowly toward a fielder that he can not 
handle it in time to put out the batsman. 

That in all cases where a base-runner is retired by being hit by 
a batted ball, the batsman should be credited with a base hit. 

When a batted ball hits the person or clothing of the Umpire, 
as defined in Rule 37. 

Sec 4. In the fourth column shall be placed sacrifice hits, 
which shall be credited: to the batsman, who, when but one man 
is out, advances a runner a base on a fly to the out-field, or a 
ground hit, which results in putting out the batsman, or would 
so result, if handled without error, 



208 Stories of the Base Ball Field, 

FIELDING. 

Sec. 5. The number of opponents put out by each player 
shall be set clown in the fifth column. Where a striker is given 
out by the Umpire for a foul strike, or because he struck out of his 
turn, the put-out shall be scored to the catcher. 

Sec. 6. The number of times the player assists shall be set 
down in the sixth column. An assist should be given to each 
player who handles the ball in assisting a run out or other play 
of the kind. 

An assist should be given to a player who makes a play in time 
to put a runner out, even if the player who could complete the 
play fails, through no fault of the player assisting. 

And generally an assist should be given to each player who 
handles the ball from the time it leaves the bat until it reaches 
the player who makes the put-out; or, in case of a thrown ball, to 
each player who throws or handles it cleanly, and in such a way 
that a put -out results, or would result if no error were made by 
the receiver. 

ERRORS. 

Sec. 7. An error shall be given in the seventh column for each 
misplay which allows the striker or base- runner to make one or 
more bases when perfect play would have insured his being put 
out, except that "wild pitches," "bases on balls," "bases on the 
batsman being struck by a pitched ball," or case of illegal pitched 
balls, balks, and passed balls, shall not be included in said column. 
In scoring errors of batted balls see Section 3 of this rule. 

STOLEN BASES. 

Sec. 8. Stolen bases shall be scored as follows — 
Any attempt to steal a base must go to the credit of the base- 
runner, whether the ball is thrown wild or muffed by the fielder, 
but any manifest error is to be charged to the fielder making the 
same. If the base-runner advances another base he shall not be 
credited with a stolen base, and the fielder allowing the advance- 
ment is also to be charged with an error. If a base-runner makes 



Stories of the Base Ball Field. 209 

a start and a battery error is made, the runner secures the credit 
of a stolen base, and the battery error is scored against the player 
making it. Should a base-runner overrun a base and then be put 
out, he should receive the credit for the stolen base. 

EARNED RUNS. 

Sec. 9. An earned run shall be scored every time the player 
reaches the home base unaided by errors before chances have 
been offered to retire the side . 

Earned runs should be charged against the 
pitching only on the basis of base hits made off 
the pitching, and should not include stolen bases 
or bases scored in any other way. 

THE SUMMARY. 

Rule 69. The summary shall contain— 

Sec. 1. The number of earned runs made by each side. 

Sec. 2. The number of two-base hits made by each player. 

Sec. 3. The number of three-base hits made by each player. 

Sec 4. The number of home runs made by each player. 

Sec 5. The number of bases stolen by each player. 

Sec 6. The number of double and triple plays made by ea^ 
side, with the names of the players assisting in the same. 

Sec 7. The number of men given bases on called balls by 
each pitcher. 

Sec 8. The number of men given bases from being hit by 
pitched balls. 

Sec 9. The number of men struck out. 

Sec 10. The number of passed balls by each catcher. 

Sec 11. The number of wild pitches by each pitcher. 

Sec 12. The time of game. 

Sec 13. The name of the Umpire. 
14 



210 Stories of the Base Ball Field. 

By including in the summary the number of 
total bases made on base hits — such as two and 
three baggers and home runs— a premium is 
offered for record-playing at the bat. Assistances 
on strikes are not to be included in the record of 
fielding assistances. There should be a record 
added giving the figures of runs batted in by 
safe hits and legitimate sacrifice hits. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Rule 70. No amendment or change of any of these National 
Playing Rules shall be made, except by a joint committee on 
rules, consisting of three members from the National League and 
three members from the American Association; such committee 
to be appointed at the annual meetings of each of said bodies to 
serve one year from the twentieth day of December of each year. 
Such committee shall have full power to act, provided that such 
amendments shall be made only by an affirmative vote of the 
majority of each delegation. 



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^Tickets to all Points West South and Southwest 

O -195 S? CLARK S 

i w Union Depot Ticket Off icej 

GANALSTREET Between MADISON 
^ -AND V\DAMS STS. 




^ew 



MONON ROUTE 



*ji Q\ Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Ry. Co-Jf C**' 

ONLY ONE NIGHT OUT 



TO FLORIDA 



Ever since the tide of Winter Tourist 
travel turned Southward, the Monon 
Route has been known as the Pull- 
man Car Line from the Northwest to the South in general, but Florida 
in particular. This route affords choice of two interesting lines from 
Chicago or Michigan City to the Ohio River, thence diverging to all 
points southeast and the Atlantic Coast, and south to Jacksonville, 
New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. 

Route No. I is via LaFayette and Louisville, and the Louisville 
Southern division of the Monon Route, through the famous Blue 
Grass and Distillery district adjacent to Lexington and Burgin, thence 
the through line is formed via Chattanooga, with choice of routes to 
Atlanta, Jacksonville, Thomasville, New Orleans, and all the Winter 
Resorts and Sanitariums of the South. 

Route No. 2 is via the Natural Gas region and Indianapolis to 
Cincinnati, at which point through double connection is made with 
diverging lines to the East, and via the Queen & Crescent through 
car line to all points along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and also the 
interior cities of Florida. 

The Monon Route is the short and direct through car line 
between Chicago and Chattanooga, Knoxville, Asheville, Salisbury. 
Columbia, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Atlanta, 
Birmingham, Pensacola, Memphis, and New Orleans. 

The equipment consists of Pullman's Perfected Safety Vestibuled 
Sleepers on night trains, and elegant Parlor Chair Cars on day trains. 

Four Fast Express trains, equipped as above, leave Chicago from 
the Dearborn Station every day in the year as follows: To Indianapo- 
lis, Cincinnati, and the South, 9.55 a.m. and 9.30 p.m.; to LaFayet.te, 
Louisville, Lexington, Burgin, and the South, 8.30 a.m. and 8.05 p.m. 

For schedules of other trains, special rates, and pamphlets de- 
scriptive of the Sanitarium Resorts on the Monon Route, address 

L. E. SESSIONS, 

Traveling Passenger Agent, Box 581, Minneapolis, Minn. 
Or call on any Monon Route Ticket Agent. 

W. H. McDOEL, Traffic Manager. JAMES BARKER, Gen'l Pass. Agent. 

General Offices, 185 Dearborn Street, Chicago, III. 




THE FINEST ON EARTH. 

THE ONLY 

Pullman Perfected Safety 

Vestibuled Train Service 

WITH DINING CAR 

BETWEEN 

Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago 



The favorite Through Car Line CINCINNATI to ST. LOUIS, 
KEOKUK, SPRINGFIELD, and PEORIA. 

The only Direct Line between CINCINNATI, DAYTON, 
FINDLAY, LIMA, TOLEDO, DETROIT, 

Jtye Cal^e I^e^iops apd ^apada. 



PULLMAN SLEEPERS ON NIGHT TRAINS, 

PARLOR AND CHAIR CARS ON DAY TRAINS 

BETWEEN 

CINCINNATI AND POINTS ENUMERATED, 

THE YEAR ROUND. 

M. D. WOODFORD, E. O. McCORMICK, 

Vice-President. General Passenger Agrent. 



Chicago, 

Milwaukee & 

St Paul Ry. 



<^ 4fc «&. .jfe 

'#* *jR* ""fls* «w* 

Stearq Heated and Electric Lighted Vestibuled Trains 
betweeq Chicago, St. Paul, and Minneapolis. 

Electric Lighted and Stean] Heated Vestibuled Trains 
betweeq Chicago, Couqcil Bluffs, aqd Omaha. 

Finest Diqing Cars iq trje world. 

Free Reclining Chjair Cars betweeq Chicago aqd Omaha. 

Fast Mail Liqe betweeq Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul, 
and Minneapolis. 

Transcontineqtal Route betweeq Chicago, Council Bluffs, 
aqd Omar] a, or St Paul. 

5,700 rqiles of road in llliqois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa. 
Missouri, Soutrj and NortP) Dakota. 

Everything First-Class. 

First-Class People patronize First-Class Liqes. 

Ticket Agents everywhere sefl Tickets over the CHICAGO, 

Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. 



SOLID 



"\ 



M ichigan 
C entra l 

'The Niagara Falls Route" 



If esliil Jralns 



FROM 




Chicago 

TO 

Buffalo 



CARRYING 



Through Sleeping Oars 

-WITHOUT CHANGE, 



To Toronto, via Canadian Pacific ; 

To New York, via N. Y. Central & Hudson River; 

To Boston, via Boston & Albany R. R. 

THROUGH CARS ALSO, BY DIRECT LINES 

Chicago to Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Saginaw, Bay City, 

Detroit, and Buffalo; 
Detroit to Saginaw, Bay City, Mackinaw, Marquette, Grand 

Rapids, Muskegon, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, Buffalo, 

and New York; 
St. Louis to Buffalo, New York, and Boston, via Wabash 

Railroad. 



Meals served in sumptuous Dining Cars. 

Drawing Room Cars on Day Trains. 

Superb Equipment, Fast Time, 

Safety, and Sure Connections* 



Chicago City Office: 
67 CLARK STREET, 



Buffalo City Office: 
64 EXCHANGE STREET, 



E. C. BROWN, 

General Superintendent. 



0. W. RUGGLES, 

Genl Passenger and Ticket Agent. 



Ifi APPROPRIATE PRE^EJIT FOR CjULDREW 



OF JLT^T* AGES. 



RAND.MeNALLY&CO.'S 

Qame of geography. 

interesting, Instructive, and Amusing for Old and Young, and Especi- 
ally Adapted for the Entertainment and 
Education of Children. 



\M -* 



TITHE outfit consists essentially of an outline map of the 
JL United States, having upon it all the larger cities and 
important streams, mountain peaks, lakes, etc., as well as 
all raiiroad lines and State boundaries, but no names. On 
the other half of the chart, which is made of heavy card- 
board, and folds like a checker-board, are printed the 
rules of the game and a list of the places shown on the 
map. A key map, in duplicate, but having all places 
named, and fifty pins, twenty-five white and twenty-five 
black, complete the outfit. 

The game consists of twenty-five points, and is played 
by two persons, each taking twenty-five pins. The one 
first succeeding in placing correctly twenty-five pins wins 
the game. 

There is no easier or pleasanter way to familiarize one- 
self with the geography of our native land. 

Sent, post-paid, to any address on receipt of price, $l u 

RAND, McNALLY & 00,, Publishers, 

CHICAGO. 



MS 



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